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Researchers Unveil New Concept In Balloon Angioplasty
In short
The University of Limerick has this week issued a news
release trumpeting its innovative device which it claims could revolutionise
balloon angioplasty procedures. Its gizmo combines a new form of coiled balloon,
which will permit continued blood flow during inflation, with a downstream
filter to capture plaque debris.
Background
Angioplasty is a long-established technique for mechanically
widening narrowed or obstructed blood vessels, generally 3-8mm in diameter.
Typically balloons occlude the entire vessel during inflation and so the
procedure involves multiple short-duration inflation/deflations to work. Even
then there remains the risk that unstable plaque deposits on the vessel walls
can break free and enter the blood stream and potentially block other arteries
resulting in strokes or heart attacks. Consequently embolic
protection devices are often used to capture and remove the dislodged fatty
deposits.
The new device, developed by Dr Michael Walsh, principal
investigator and lead inventor(picture right), and colleagues at the University
of Limerick, combines both balloon principles and filtration. The really
innovative aspect though, is the dual-route flow it incorporates. Essentially
there is a hole through the middle of the device that allows regular blood flow.
Meanwhile the balloon stretches the walls of the artery, then immediately
catches any resulting plaque break-offs in the filter. According to the
developers this presents some distinct advantages over existing devices.
Ultimately, Walsh believes it could improve the success rate of the more than
one million angioplasty procedures undertaken worldwide each year.
Researcher comments
Walsh says “Typically, balloons are inflated for four
seconds, then deflated, then inflated again and they might do that four or fives
times, whereas with ours you can inflate it and leave it there until it can be
shown the plaque won’t recoil and re-block the artery.’
Corporate tie-up
The technology has now been licensed to Galway-based medical
devices company, Clada Medical, who hope to tap into the approximate €500m
angioplasty market.
Clada Medical is an Irish-owned company that provides medical
device design, research and development, testing and OEM manufacturing services
from its Class 8 clean-room facilities in Galway. The company has particular
expertise in balloon mould manufacturing and custom balloon/catheter design.
Source: University of Limerick
http://www.medlatest.com/2012/04/13/researchers-unveil-new-concept-in-balloon-angioplasty/ |
