Tiny catheter sensors to guide embolization procedures
Advancing catheter electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for precision medicine of embolotherapy
This project will use miniaturized sensors on catheters to measure blood flow in real time to help doctors treat conditions like liver tumors, uterine fibroids, kidney cancer, and bleeding in cystic fibrosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11121538 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, researchers are building very small sensors that fit inside the thin catheters doctors use to block blood vessels (embolization). The sensors use electrochemical impedance spectroscopy to continuously read flow inside the treated artery instead of relying only on X-ray pictures. The team will shrink the technology to work in microcatheters that can reach small vessels and will test methods for continuous blood-flow measurement. The goal is to make embolization more precise while reducing dependence on high-radiation imaging and bulky alternatives.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people undergoing arterial embolization for conditions such as hepatocellular carcinoma, uterine fibroids, renal cell carcinoma, or massive hemoptysis related to cystic fibrosis.
Not a fit: Patients who are not having embolization procedures or whose care does not involve catheter-based vessel occlusion would not directly benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make embolization treatments more precise and reduce unnecessary radiation exposure during the procedure.
How similar studies have performed: Related tools like Doppler guidewires and angiography are used now, but integrating electrochemical impedance sensors into microcatheters is a novel and early-stage approach with limited prior clinical testing.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vezeridis, Alexander Michael — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Vezeridis, Alexander Michael
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 below.