Improving heart imaging without anesthesia
Official title: Trans Nasal Transesophageal Echocardiography
Funded at University of Utah · NIH-10990837 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new way to take heart pictures using a method called transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) that doesn't need sedation, making it safer and easier for critically ill patients to get the heart care they need.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project start | September 5, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $385,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R61HL171790-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10990837 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include critically ill patients or those requiring heart imaging who may have high risks associated with sedation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not require heart imaging or those who are not critically ill may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), a heart imaging technique that provides clearer images than traditional methods. The goal is to develop a version of TEE that does not require sedation, which can pose risks and increase costs. By eliminating the need for anesthesia, this approach aims to make TEE safer and more accessible for critically ill patients, allowing for better diagnosis and management of heart conditions. The research will explore the effectiveness of this anesthesia-free method in various clinical scenarios.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to safer and more accessible heart imaging for patients, reducing risks associated with anesthesia.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results with anesthesia-free imaging techniques, suggesting potential for success in this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tumarkin, Ethan — University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Tumarkin, Ethan
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Four-Chamber Echo Insights to Improve Cardiac Diagnosis
A new AI-based approach uses routine echocardiograms to map the heart’s four chambers and flow patterns, helping doctors diagnose acute heart conditions more accurately.
-
AI-powered automatic echocardiography reporting for better heart care
A Mayo Clinic team is developing an AI-enabled system to automatically interpret echocardiograms and generate reports for patients with heart problems.
-
AI-powered echocardiography to spot common heart defects in newborns
A new AI tool analyzes infant heart ultrasound images to help non-specialist health workers identify five common, treatable heart defects early.
-
AI help for newborn heart ultrasound images in Sub‑Saharan Africa
This project uses AI to help health workers capture better heart ultrasound images so newborns in Sub‑Saharan Africa can get quicker, more accurate diagnosis of congenital heart defects.
-
AI-powered echocardiography reporting with visual-linguistic models
A Mayo Clinic physician aims to train and grow an AI-enabled system that helps automatically interpret echocardiograms and generate reports for patients with heart problems.
-
New approaches to making transesophageal echocardiography safer and easier for patients
A novel NIH-funded project aims to improve how transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is done, reducing sedation risks and expanding access for adults who need heart imaging.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.