SBIR-STTR Award

We will develop a fiber optics pressure catheter for NHLBI Subject 56.D. The optical pressure sensor using special optical material is much smaller in diameter (less invasive) than the currently used electronic pressure catheter. It is inserted into blood vessels (arteries, veins or heart chamber) and capable of measuring blood pressures (O to 300 mmHg) with a very high accuracy (better than 3 mmHg). The sensor is bio-compatible and causes no medical problems. The sensor is also stable over long time periods (72 hrs) and for temperature changes (30'C to 5O'C). The manufacturing cost of the sensor head would be very inexpensive (less than $ 100) so that the head can be disposable.The sensor will help monitor heart conditions after open heart surgery. Because of its small size it can be used for the young. The primary commercial application of this device will be in cardiology. It can also be used to monitor fluid pressures in the human brain after surgery. The Phase I effort will demonstrate the feasibility of the approach while full product development is planned for Phase II.Awardee's statement of the potential commercial applications of the research:The device can be used at major hospitals and clinics as an accurate and less invasive blood pressure monitoring device, particularly in cardiology. The sensor is also applicable as a sensitive fluid pressure monitoring device in the human brain after surgery.National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

The development of a fiber optics pressure catheter is proposed for NHLBI Subject 56.D~ 1991. The optical pressure sensor using elasto-optic materials would be the smallest in diameter (less invasive) among currently available electronic and optical pressure catheters. It is inserted into blood vessels (arteries, veins or heart chamber) and is capable of measuring blood pressures (O to 300 mmHg) with a very high accuracy (better than 3 mmHg). The sensor is bio-compatible and causes no medical problems. The sensor is also stable over long time periods (72 hrs.) and through several temperature changes (30 to 50 degrees centigrade). The manufacturing cost of the sensor head would be very inexpensive (less than $10); therefore, it could be disposable. The sensor will help monitor heart conditions after open heart surgery. The sensor can be used for infant because of its small size. The primary commercial application of this device will be in cardiology. It can also be used to monitor fluid pressures in the human brain after surgery. The Phase I effort demonstrated the feasibility of the proposed approach. Prototype development will be carried out in Phase II.Awardee's statement of the potential commercial applications of the research: The device can be used at major hospitals and clinics as an accurate and less invasive blood pressure monitoring device for use in intra-aortic balloon pumping and other cardiological applications. Because of its small size, the sensor can also be used to monitor critically ill infants and small children.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)