In-vessel implantable smart sensing device for personalised medicine

Introduction

The IV-Lab project aims at designing and manufacturing a miniaturized sensing device implantable in the blood vessel for monitoring the health status of patients. The micro-sensor system would implement a body-embedded system with multiple sensing capabilities, targeting hemodynamic and biochemical parameters, once implanted into blood vessels (vein and/or arterial blood vessels) of vulnerable patients with cardiovascular diseases.

Objectives

The final goal of the proposal aims at responding to the main requests from the Pathfinder Health work program, which is to endow people with unperceivable sensors. This will allow:

1. The continuous long-term monitoring of the health status.
2. The diagnosis and personalized medical intervention.

Functionality

Once in the vessel, the sensor will be completely unobtrusive and capable of continuous monitoring. The implanted system will be connected with (and powered by) an external data collection and communication system coupled through standardized wireless technology (i.e., NFC), or even simply by a smartphone in case of asynchronous on-demand monitoring.

Design

The device will have a miniaturized shape and size, allowing placement inside veins and arteries without impairing blood flow. It will be provided with multiple different sensors, able to work in a continuous or asynchronous way, depending on the specific use cases.

Applications

This device will find important applications in the field of cardiovascular disease, particularly in patients where the detection of hemodynamic behavior and specific biomarkers could reduce re-hospitalization and mortality (i.e., heart failure).

Future Perspectives

Moreover, in perspective, the system will make it possible to monitor the development and outcome of different diseases, allowing for prompt and tailored treatment.