R+D CSIC

Microbridles for measuring arterial diameter and cardiovascular prevention

Researchers at the CSIC, together with the University of Seville, have developed a low cost microdevice for blood vessel monitoring. The device enables a quantitative and real-time measurement of blood vessel´s properties, which can help the diagnosis and prevention of cardiovascular diseases in humans and animals.

It has been demonstrated that small changes on an artery diameter can be directly related to any cardiovascular disorders. Therefore, a quantitative and real-time monitoring of perimeter variation of arteries can improve the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disorders.

Imaging techniques like CCD, ultrasounds and plethysmography are commonly used to measure volume variation in blood vessels. Nevertheless, these techniques are not quantitative and have poor accuracy. They don’t permit real-time monitoring of the geometric changes and are expensive.

Researchers at the Institute of Microelectronics of Barcelona (IMB-CNM) of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), together with the University of Seville, have developed a low cost device for blood vessel monitoring.

The microdevice is based on an opto-mechanic bridle which allows a quantitative (with accuracy of microns) and real-time measurement of blood vessel´s properties (structural, mechanical and functional). It enables to have several quantitative and real time measurements, such as the endothelial function, myogenic tone, heart beat and oxygen saturation.

The device consists of a holder where the artery is fixed to be monitored, a (micro) cantilever sensor, flexible and mobile, which responds quantitatively to any change in the diameter of arterial section. It has also an optical sensor which detects mechanical shifting and transforms it into a light signal, whose intensity changes depending on the mechanical displacement.

It can be used in any other application that requires the monitoring of geometric changes in the vessels or capillary structures

The full device is made of a biocompatible material. It has been successfully tested for in-vitro and ex-vivo monitoring of rat´s mesenteric microvessels.

The system developed can also be used to measure the cardiovascular response of organisms to any diagnostic method or drug delivery like antidepressants, antihistamines or diuretics. The microbridle can be used in any other application that requires the monitoring of geometric changes in the vessels or capillary structures, like plants, organs, muscles or tissues.

The microdevice has been patented (Patent Cooperation Treaty, PCT). Industrial partners in the biomedical sector are sought.

Contact:

Isabel Gavilanes Pérez
Vicepresidencia de Transferencia del Conocimiento
Tel. +34 – 93 594 77 00
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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