Single-element ultrasound system for high-resolution jugular venous pulse contour detection

Jugular venous pulse (JVP) waveform contour is directly linked to right atrial hemodynamics and is a potential tool for diagnosing various cardiovascular diseases. The reference standard, central venous line catheterization, while precise, is restricted to critical care units owing to the necessity for surgical procedures and specialized operator skills. Conventional ultrasound imaging systems can reliably measure jugular venous vessel dynamics but are hindered by low operational frame rates, large form factors, and the requirement for trained operators. In this study, we propose a portable system using single-element ultrasound technology for reliable JVP waveform acquisition and methods for quantifying the JVP contour features. The performance of the system and method was validated against a reference ultrasound imaging system in a preclinical study on 65 asymptomatic volunteers (27 female). Operating at an acquisition rate of 250 Hz, the system reliably captures JVP waveforms with a temporal resolution of 4 ms. The maximum and minimum jugular venous diameter measurements showed a statistically significant and strong correlation with the reference measurements (r = 0.93 and r = 0.86, respectively, p < 0.001). The devised algorithms effectively segmented JVP cycles and analyzed their contour features with a sensitivity and specificity of 92%. These results provide preliminary evidence for the potential use of the developed system for high-fidelity JVP waveform acquisition and pulse contour feature assessment. The ability to accurately evaluate the JVP contour characteristics can provide insights into right atrial hemodynamics, potentially facilitating the early detection and monitoring of vascular anomalies.