The
device marks the first time stretchable electronics have been applied to a
surgical process known as cardiac ablation, a milestone that could lead to
simpler surgeries for arrhythmia and other heart conditions. The researchers
had previously demonstrated the concept to apply stretchable electronics to
heart surgery, but with this research improved the design's functionality to
the point that it could be utilized in animal tests.
Cardiac
ablation is a surgical technique that corrects heart rhythm irregularities by
destroying specific heart tissue that triggers irregular heartbeats. The
procedure is typically performed either with open-heart surgery or by inserting
a series of long, flexible catheters through a vein in the patient's groin and
into his heart.
Currently
this catheter method requires the use of three different devices, which are
inserted into the heart in succession: one to map the heart's signals and detect
the problem area, a second to control positions of therapeutic actuators and
their contact with the epicardium, and a third to burn the tissue away.
"Our
catheter replaces all three devices previously needed for cardiac ablation
therapy, making the surgery faster, simpler, and with a lower risk of
complication," said Yonggang Huang, Joseph Cummings Professor of Civil and
Environmental Engineering and Mechanical Engineering at McCormick.
Central
to the design is a section of catheter that is printed with a thin layer of
stretchable electronics. The catheter's exterior protects the electronics
during its trip through the bloodstream; once inside the heart, the catheter is
inflated like a balloon, exposing the electronics to a larger surface area
inside the heart.
With
the catheter is in place, the individual devices within can perform their
specific tasks. A pressure sensor determines the pressure on the heart; an EKG
sensor monitors the heart's condition during the procedure; and a temperature
sensor controls the temperature so as not to damage surrounding tissue. The
temperature can also be controlled during the procedure without removing the
catheter.
These
devices can deliver critical, high-quality information -- such as temperature,
mechanical force, and blood flow -- to the surgeon in real time, and the system
is designed to operate reliably without any changes in properties as the
balloon inflates and deflates.
Researchers
at McCormick led the efforts to design and optimize the system. (McCormick graduate
student Shuodao Wang is a co-first author of the paper.) Device fabrications
were done at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and animal tests
were conducted at University of Arizona Sarver Heart Center.
Other
partners on this research include Seoul National University in the Republic of
Korea; the University of Texas at Austin; Zhejiang University in China; the
Harbin Institute of Technology in China; the Institute of High Performance
Computing in Singapore; Massachusetts General Hospital; and Tufts University.
Source:
The
above story is reprinted from materials provided by Northwestern
University.
Note:
Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please
contact the source cited above.
Journal
Reference:
1.
D.-H. Kim, R. Ghaffari, N. Lu, S.
Wang, S. P. Lee, H. Keum, R. D'Angelo, L. Klinker, Y. Su, C. Lu, Y.-S. Kim, A.
Ameen, Y. Li, Y. Zhang, B. de Graff, Y.-Y. Hsu, Z. Liu, J. Ruskin, L. Xu, C.
Lu, F. G. Omenetto, Y. Huang, M. Mansour, M. J. Slepian, J. A. Rogers. Electronic
sensor and actuator webs for large-area complex geometry cardiac mapping and
therapy. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2012; DOI:
10.1073/pnas.1205923109
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice,
diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those
of Eagle Group or its staff.
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