Fiscal Year:
2001
Title:
Catheter to Thermally Classify Atherosclerotic Plaque
Agency:
HHS
Contract:
N/A
Award Amount:
$100,000.00
Abstract:
DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Unstable plaque is well established as
producing high risk for sudden myocardial infarction (MI), through plaque
rupture and subsequent thrombotic response, or thrombosis generated at the
inflamed plaque surface. It cannot be located by angiography, and has been
estimated to account for 60-70 percent of fatal MIs and up to 85 percent of all
MIs. Accumed Systems, Inc. will develop a Thermal Sensing Catheter (TSC) to identify
unstable plaque. Such measurements have been made in research labs, but no such
product now exists. Technological innovation to achieve this includes
developing new micro-thermistor and specialized manufacturing techniques to
embed them in sensing arms, as well as developing new and novel testing
techniques. It will measure the surface temperature of the inner wall of
coronary arteries at multiple sites and identify sites of unstable plaque.
Specific aims:
1) Prove the viability of intra-arterial measurements by making repeated
measurements of simulated hot spots in canine arteries with prototype
catheters. Demonstrate meeting preliminary spatial, thermal, and temporal
specifications.
2) Confirm the functionality of the design and generate prototypes for the next
round of tests on atherosclerotic rabbits to take place in Phase II.
PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION:
The Thermal Sensing Catheter (TSC) to be developed will have immediate commercial
applications in the large (est. $200 million/year) market for atherosclerotic plaque stability
assessment. The underlying technology will also have a wide range of other cardiovascular
applications where inflammation is present, e.g. myocarditis, valvulitis, aortis, as well as in
those in other areas about to be biopsied, such as skin lesions, gingival lesions and urinary
bladder.
Principal Investigator:
Joseph R. Korotko
Small Business Information at Submission:
ACCUMED SYSTEMS, INC.
334 E WASHINGTON ST ANN ARBOR, MI 48104
EIN/Tax ID:
382920289
DUNS:
N/A
Number of Employees:
N/A
Woman-Owned:
No
Minority-Owned:
No
HUBZone-Owned:
No