Microchip in Aneurysm Monitors Pressure

In an experimental procedure, a wireless sensor was implanted inside an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) following repair with a stent graft in order to monitor the pressure inside the aneurysm.

Stent grafts are implanted inside aneurysms to "exclude” their ballooned and weakened walls from high-pressure arterial blood flow. But even after repair, there is a slight chance that an undetected increase in pressure could lead to a fatal aneurysm rupture. Generally, patients have computed tomography (CT) scans six months after aneurysm repair and every year thereafter to monitor the aneurysm. However, these tests are expensive, time consuming, and a strain on patients' kidneys due to contrast dyes injected into the bloodstream.

The implantation of the new sensor, a wireless microchip, took place at the Baptist Cardiac & Vascular Institute in Miami (FL, USA). Afterward, the doctor waved a large, racket-like "wand” over the patient's abdomen to pick up the wireless signal from the implanted chip. The signal showed that the aneurysm was still deflated following surgery a month earlier.

"When aneurysms rupture and take someone's life, it's because of pressure,” explained Dr. Barry Katzen, the attending surgeon at the procedure. "Without this new microchip, I wouldn't be able to check the pressure inside Mr. Peris' aneurysm, only view its size and contours with a CT scan. That's why this experimental technology is so exciting.”

The microchip was developed by CardioMEMS, Inc. (Atlanta, GA, USA), a company focused on the application of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology to create innovative devices for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases.




Related Links:
Baptist & Vascular Institute
CardioMEMS