Summary:
The IV-Lab project, funded by the European Union and coordinated by the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT, Genoa, Italy), is spearheading the development of a miniaturized sensor device that can be implanted into blood vessels such as veins or peripheral arteries to monitor various parameters related to vascular health and patient well-being.
Unlike existing devices, this new sensor will integrate multiple sensors within a small platform, measuring only 1 to 2 cm in length and 2 to 4 mm in diameter. Advanced manufacturing techniques are crucial for this integration, enabling the fabrication of micro-scale sensors and their subsequent transfer, assembly, and connection to a support framework. These sensors will measure parameters such as blood pressure, vessel deformation, oximetry, hematocrit, and specific cardiovascular biomarkers. The key goal is to provide essential data remotely to physicians, enabling rapid and early interventions to prevent heart failure.
Once implanted, the system will connect to an external communication and data collection system that can operate via standard wireless technology or even a smartphone for on-demand asynchronous monitoring. Its small size is designed for easy implantation via catheterization into a peripheral vein.
Part of the project is dedicated to evaluating the performance of the developed prototype through laboratory tests, with a particular emphasis on biocompatibility and other medical considerations. In the future, the system could monitor disease progression and outcomes, thereby enabling physicians to provide timely and personalized treatments. Researchers envision a future where the implanted microsensor system is fully integrated into cloud networks, allowing artificial intelligence software to analyze data from multiple sensors. This integration would alert medical professionals to any abnormal readings, enabling them to initiate preventive protocols for various diseases effectively.
«The device will find significant applications in the field of cardiovascular diseases, particularly in those patients where detection of hemodynamic behavior and specific biomarkers could reduce rehospitalization and mortality, such as heart failure or coronary restenosis following stent implantation,» stated Virgilio Mattoli, a researcher at IIT and coordinator of the IV-LAB project.
Article written by Hospi Médica
06/06/2024
Source:
Hospi Médica
https://www.hospimedica.es/tecnicas-quirurgicas/articles/294801439/un-dispositivo-multisensor-implantable-monitorea-la-salud-de-los-vasos-sanguineos.html