Technologies

A forward-looking imaging platform enabling cardiovascular and other restricted space catheter-based interventions and image-guided therapy

With side-viewing OCT/ultrasound catheter, endoscopic and angiography techniques established in clinics and surgical suites, there is currently no imaging platform that is small, sensitive and robust enough to be used in forward-viewing intravascular applications. As a result, there is an entire class of indications, including vessel occlusions that can’t be imaged, nor therapeutically intervened in a non-invasive fashion, that are a potential market for this technology.

This simple forward-looking imaging catheter platform is small enough to be used in cardiovascular applications and serve as the ‘eyes’ for guided therapeutic device interventions. Key features include:

• A forward-looking catheter-based imaging platform compatible with OCT and non-cardio ultrasound.
• Can be integrated with ablation and other therapeutic means to target partial and total occlusions.
• Small (1.5-2.0mm dia.) and flexible (~1cm rigid length) to be used in standard biopsy catheters, cardiovascular applications and other restrictive spaces of the body.
• Other potential applications include GI, gynecological, and neurosurgery interventions.
• Very low cost (~$100) compared with current side-viewing equipment.
• Based on dissipative polymer and electrostatic vibrational physics.