# Novel contrast agent tool for musculoskeletal injection procedures

> **NIH NIH R43** · AGITATED SOLUTIONS INC. · 2022 · $281,978

## Abstract

Abstract
Injection therapy for intra and extra-articular structures using ultrasound guidance is one of the principal
medical treatments available for musculoskeletal (MSK) pain, however, these injections are inaccessible to
patients who are obese or unable to wait a long time to visit a specialty center. Correct needle placement and
visualization of the injectate is important to enable orthopedists and sports medicine doctors to perform these
injections in obese patients under US, as well as to enable training and build confidence in general
practitioners to conduct injections in their primary care offices, thus improving access. As such, the goal of this
Phase 1 project is to design and develop the MSK ORBIS Contrast Device for delivery of microbubbles of air
mixed in therapeutic cocktails for use as a tool to increase the accuracy and reduce the level of training
needed for MSK injection procedures. If successful, the benefit, in part, would be improved access to MSK
injections to obese patients and through general practitioners that can perform the injections in a primary care
clinic. Other benefits potentially include more accurate injections and as such, less pain experienced by
patients, less resources required to perform an injection, and more confidence in the injection procedure itself.
The ORBIS device attaches to the end of a drug-filled syringe and instantaneously creates a dispersion of
microbubbles during injection. In preliminary cadaver testing and benchtop testing, the ORBIS device was
shown to produce microbubbles that are echogenic under ultrasound and dissipate quickly, allowing the
provider to reposition the needle in cases of missed intra-articular injections. The specific aims of this proposal
are as follows: 1) develop and test the MSK ORBIS device to meet design criteria including consistent
microbubble concentration, optimal echogenicity and visualization, dissipation, and use with fluids of different
viscosities for hip and shoulder joint injections under ultrasound guidance; 2) verify the clinical utility of the
ORBIS device design through relating the benchtop data with a series of interim cadaveric studies and 3)
validate the ORBIS in a study designed to evaluate the needle placement and injection accuracy of the ORBIS
in cadaver shoulder and hip joints utilizing clinicians with varied experience levels. Through these aims, the
clinical utility of the ORBIS will be optimized and validated for improving injection accuracy for practitioners.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10483672
- **Project number:** 1R43AR079963-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** AGITATED SOLUTIONS INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Morgan Elizabeth Evans
- **Activity code:** R43 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $281,978
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-09-15 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10483672

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10483672, Novel contrast agent tool for musculoskeletal injection procedures (1R43AR079963-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10483672. Licensed CC0.

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