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Impedance Spectroscopy device for early indication and diagnosis of Coronary disease (Cor-‐IS)
Category: Medical Reference: TDO0150 Broker Company Name: KiNNO Consultants Broker Name: Paris Rallis Telephone: +30 210 6838950 Email: [email protected]
Abstract A research team from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki has developed an impedance spectroscopy device, that allows prompt and timely evaluation of the functionality of the brachial artery endothelium and, consequently, of the coronary circulation system. The device provides higher sensitivity than ultrasound imaging and it is also lightweight, portable and easy to handle for home use. The research team is looking for financial resources in order to conduct extensive clinical trials, or partners for joint further development and testing of new applications.
Description The device allows prompt and timely evaluation of the functionality of the brachial artery endothelium and, consequently, of the coronary circulation system. Impedance measurements are based on the vasodilation caused by an ischemic cuff on the upper arm and subsequent hyperemia through the Nitric Oxide (NO) release from the endothelium.
The device can be primarily used as a reliable early indicator of an emerging coronary disease in patients suspected (due to pathological reasons) of developing the disease.
Additionally this device can be used as a supplementary diagnostic tool for the coronary disease by employing on-‐line/in-‐situ analysis, of a patient’s impedance data that are continuously logged during selected or prolonged periods of time.
For the first time in clinical practice, such impedance data will provide time-‐series information on a patient’s brachial artery performance after an ischemic cuff and subsequent hyperemia e.g., expansion and recovery rate, span of artery size response, periodic and non-‐periodic features of coronary circulation, etc. Such information will allow medical doctors to assess not only the severity of incidents
but also to monitor and record the medical history of a patient regarding the evolution/development of coronary diseases along his lifetime.
The proposed device is a modified version of a patented electrical impedance spectroscopy device (European Patent Office, EP14188200.1) that has been already used during in-‐vivo clinical trials for the detection of Decompression Sickness in volunteer divers (European Space Agency reports). The latter constitutes a stringent proof of concept of the technique for measuring reliable electric signals.
Innovations and advantages of the offer Until now, ultrasound imaging of the brachial artery is applied in clinical practice, before and after the ischemic cuff and the subsequent hyperemia.
This practice has major disadvantages like poor repeatability, extensive fluctuation in the measured values, low imaging resolution and dependency on an ultrasound operator.
The aforementioned drawbacks are not present when employing the Cor-‐IS, which is a non-‐invasive impedance spectroscopy device that reads electrical signals using simple ECG-‐type electrodes, placed onto the skin.
It can measure, with unprecedented sensitivity, not only the impedance variations caused by the ischemic cuff and release but even the minuscule pulsatile impedance undulations of the blood flow.
Cor-‐IS is absolutely safe for human applications. Furthermore, it is lightweight, small, portable, easy to handle and can operate on batteries. Preliminary cost breakdown indicates that it will be affordable for regular people to buy and use at home.
In addition, it can provide continuous measurements for telemedicine applications, data logging and it can be used routinely. The applications range is wide and different measurement sites (e.g. chest, carotid artery, etc) can be measured and
examined independently or at the same time. Such multi-‐point measurement is impossible with ultrasound imaging.
Description of Space Heritage This technology was developed under the framework of the GSTP project: In-‐Vivo Embolic Detector (I-‐VED) -‐ A patented electrical impedance spectroscopy device for the detection and characterization of bubbles in the bodies of astronauts.
Comments on the technology by the broker This novel technology won the Greek “Down to Earth Competition” in 2014. It takes advantage of the innovative data acquisition unit (hardware) and advanced signal analysis (software), making it capable of sensing the presence of even a few micro-‐bubbles inside the astronauts’ body, and making it very promising for the early detection of coronary disease.
This Technology Description was downloaded from www.esa-‐tec.eu
