ARTSENSTouch--A portable device for evaluation of carotid artery stiffness.

Arterial stiffness is recognized as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events and has potential in vascular screening. We have developed 'ARTSENS(®)', an image free system for evaluation of vascular stiffness. Here, we present ARTSENSTouch, a portable device for evaluation of carotid artery stiffness in field settings. A technical validation of the device in comparison with reference ultrasound imaging system is presented. The validation study emulated constraints faced in evaluation of stiffness in field, such as measurement in sitting posture, use of brachial blood pressure for computations, limited time available for testing and lack of electrical power supply for instrument. The usability of the device and its accuracy, with respect to the reference ultrasound imaging system, was verified by conducting in-vivo measurements on 30 subjects. Stiffness measurements made using ARTSENS in sitting posture showed strong correlation with those obtained from the imaging system in supine posture. The repeatability of ARTSENS measurements was also found to be satisfactory.