Metasurface Optical Guidewire to Treat Coronary Artery Calcification
Official title: Metasurface Optical Guidewire for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)
Funded at Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-11468164 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new optical guidewire technology aims to improve safety and effectiveness of coronary interventions in people with calcified arteries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $248,993 |
| NIH project number | 4R00HL173631-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11468164 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with coronary artery disease and significant coronary calcification who are candidates for PCI.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without calcified coronary disease or those not considering PCI may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
If you have coronary artery disease with calcium buildup, this project develops tiny metasurface optical guidewires that can be guided by imaging during PCI. The researchers will design, fabricate, and test sub-millimeter optical components and integrate them into PCI workflows, including laser-assisted plaque modification. The goal is to provide better delivery and expansion of stents, more reliable drug distribution, and improved outcome measures in preclinical models. This early work focuses on translating physics-based tools into a safer, more effective treatment option for calcified arteries.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could make PCI safer and more successful for patients with calcified coronary arteries.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows promise for novel guidewire and imaging-guided techniques, but this metasurface approach is novel and yet to be proven in preclinical models.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Katta, Nitesh — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Katta, Nitesh
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Using electronic health records to identify complications after heart procedures
This study is working on a smart way to spot problems that can happen after a common heart procedure called PCI, using computer programs to look at health records, so that doctors can better keep you safe and provide the best care possible.
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New optical guidewires for treating blocked coronary arteries
This study is testing new, flexible guidewires that use special light technology to help doctors treat blocked arteries in patients with hard, calcified arteries, making heart procedures safer and more effective.
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Aims to understand how the growth of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in outpatient and inpatient settings affects disadvantaged communities differently from non-disadvantaged ones.
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A new catheter device is being developed to help doctors deliver stents in very hard-to-treat heart artery cases, potentially making complex procedures safer and more effective.
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A new guide-extension catheter system is being developed to safely reach and treat complex blockages in the heart’s blood vessels, especially where calcified and tortuous arteries make stent delivery hard.
-
How expanding artery-opening (PCI) procedures affects disadvantaged versus other communities
This project looks at whether expanding artery-opening procedures (PCI) in hospitals and outpatient centers has helped or left behind people from disadvantaged communities with heart disease.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.