FAQs

Q: What is AUDICOR® TS?
Q: What measures does Acoustic Cardiography provide?
Q: What is the reimbursement?
Q: What clinical studies have been conducted on AUDICOR?
Q: Can AUDICOR be used during exercise?
Q: How difficult is it to perform an AUDICOR test?
Q: How is AUDICOR different from phonocardiography?


Q: What is AUDICOR® TS?
AUDICOR TS is a portable acoustic cardiograph for the rapid, non-invasive measurement of hemodynamic function in the hospital or clinic setting. The system generates objective, intuitive parameters that correlate with established hemodynamic measures. These parameters can be displayed immediately, and graphically trended over multiple time points.

Q: What measures does Acoustic Cardiography provide?
Acoustic cardiography simultaneously integrates heart sounds and single-channel electrocardiography input to generate multiple parameters that correlate to established hemodynamic measures. The first, S3 strength, is the overall acoustical energy of the third heart sound, which is highly correlated to elevated LVEDP. The second parameter, measures from the onset of depolarization to closure of the AV valves (Q-S1 interval). We call this the electrical mechanical activation time, or EMAT. It depends on three physiological phenomenons: the electromechanical delay, contractility and the delta between LV and LA pressure. The third parameter, called LVST (left ventricular systolic time) correlates with improved ejection fractions. The trending of these three parameters can help clinicians efficiently monitor their patients’ hemodynamic status.

Q: What is the reimbursement?
Inovise Medical, Inc. is working closely with the American Medical Association to obtain a unique code for acoustic cardiography. AUDICOR is a new technology, and Inovise Medical will work closely with you, and your clinic in pursuing reimbursement.

Q: What clinical studies have been conducted on AUDICOR?
We currently have over 42 publications to date with more than 20 studies in process including the HEARD-IT multinational trial, dyssynchrony study, and correlation to echo for CRT optimization.

Q: Can AUDICOR be used during exercise?
Even though our clinical research team has not formally studied this approach, it is possible with our system to have the patient perform a series of isometric exercises or leg lifts to initiate an increase in heart rate—both of which will not negatively impact our measurements.

Q: How difficult is it to perform an AUDICOR test?
AUDICOR requires a simple three-step process that can be completed in as little as ten minutes. Performing an AUDICOR test may require less time, people, and expenses versus the current method. AUDICOR can help improve overall efficiencies of your clinic and may help reduce costs.

Q: How is AUDICOR different from phonocardiography?
The diagnostic utility of AUDICOR® reaches well beyond the limits of a “sound only” recording obtained from time-consuming phonocardiography sessions. AUDICOR® performs beat-by-beat digitized signal processing correlating electrical and sound activity based on multiple parameters including signal timing, frequency, and amplitude throughout the entire cardiac cycle. AUDICOR has easy to use hardware, intuitive software interfaces, and proven algorithms for monitoring and trending important hemodynamic functions.