The VF-Doppler research group of Dr. William (Rick) Weitzel is developing a new diagnostic medical device to benefit dialysis patients that is based on a method of variable flow or volume flow (VF) Doppler technology developed by Dr. Weitzel at the University of Michigan.  This proprietary VF Doppler methodology will be implemented using a small, low-cost and highly accurate sensor that stays with the patient (preventing disease transmission), while providing continuous monitoring of blood flow through the vascular access during dialysis treatment. Dr. Weitzel is working with the University of Michigan Technology Transfer Office to develop the VF Doppler device to optimize patient care reducing disruptive dialysis access failures.

Maintaining adequate blood flow through the dialysis access is critical to the success of life-sustaining dialysis treatments. An access is typically created as a surgical conduit between an artery and a vein (typically in the patient's arm). When the access "fails" (thromboses or clots off), emergent treatments must be performed to re-establish flow and continue dialysis treatments. For this reason the access is often referred to as the patient's "lifeline". 

There are 330,000 dialysis patients in the U.S. suffering from End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) and another 1 million patients around the world.  These patients require treatment 3 times a week, resulting in approximately 51.4 million treatments in the U.S. and over 200 million treatments worldwide each year.  The costs of treatments in the U.S. alone total nearly $14 billion annually. Although 20% of ESRD patients die annually, the total number of ESRD patients is growing 7.7% per year.  Maintaining dialysis access in the care of these patients contributes significantly to the overall cost and quality of care they receive.  Existing access monitoring technologies are too cumbersome or disruptive to treatment to be used regularly, even though dialysis access problems are common. 

The VF Doppler device will significantly improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce overall cost by allowing frequent or even continuous access monitoring, thereby improving the quality of care for dialysis patients.