Balloon Catheter-Integrated Piezoelectric Micropyramid Arrays for Measuring Vascular Stiffness

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Cardiovascular Research

Background:

• Atherosclerosis, a leading cause of cardiovascular disease, involves blood vessel narrowing and loss of elasticity.
• Complications include acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and aortic aneurysm, necessitating early detection.
• Current diagnostic methods have limitations in directly assessing vascular mechanical properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel piezoelectric nanocomposite micropyramid balloon catheter (p-MPB) for measuring vascular stiffness.
• To assess the feasibility of p-MPB as an endovascular sensor for early diagnosis of atherosclerotic symptoms.
• To demonstrate the sensor's capability in detecting mechanical changes within blood vessels.

Main Methods:

• Finite element method (FEM) analyses were conducted for structural characterization and feasibility studies.
• Piezoelectric nanocomposite micropyramid balloon catheter (p-MPB) arrays were fabricated.
• Compression/release tests, in vitro vascular phantom tests, and ex vivo porcine heart tests were performed to measure piezoelectric voltages.

Main Results:

• Structural characterization and FEM analyses confirmed the feasibility of p-MPB as an endovascular sensor.
• Multifaceted piezoelectric voltages were successfully measured, correlating with mechanical properties.
• The p-MPB sensor demonstrated proper operation within simulated and actual vascular environments.

Conclusions:

• The developed p-MPB arrays represent a viable technology for endovascular measurement of vascular stiffness.
• This sensor offers a promising approach for the early and accurate diagnosis of atherosclerosis and related cardiovascular conditions.
• The piezoelectric nature of the sensor allows for passive mechanical property assessment without external power sources.