Summary:
UCLA researchers in the Department of Urology and Surgery have developed a novel device to continuously track hemodynamic changes in the body wirelessly, compactly, and cost-effectively.
Background:
Continuous hemodynamic monitoring is essential to treat a variety of diseases, namely hypertension and heart failure, which are two of the leading causes of death in the United States. However, current blood pressure (BP) monitors such as the standard cuff involve a time consuming, cumbersome process causing low compliance as only 51% of at-risk adults perform recommended monitoring. Additionally, these devices only provide single-point measurements, failing to capture dynamic changes in the body over time, which are critical for accurate disease monitoring and diagnosis. Due to the lack of real-time monitoring capabilities, users cannot properly distinguish between normal and pathological BP fluctuations. Implantable sensors have been proposed as an alternative to standard BP monitoring. However, existing implantable sensors have not achieved widespread adoption due to their large external units, requirement for regular recalibration, and lack of clinically actionable data. Thus, there is an unmet need for a device that can provide continuous, flexible, and convenient real-time monitoring of hemodynamic changes for improved patient outcomes and decreased morbidity associated with heart failure.
Innovation:
Professor Rory Geoghegan and his research team have developed an innovative device that provides continuous hemodynamic measurements using transcutaneous fiber-optic communication. The device enables wireless data transmission between an implanted sensor and a wearable monitor, ensuring seamless real-time monitoring. Thorough experimentation has demonstrated the device’s accurate performance across a broad range of tissue types, meeting the precision of standard monitoring devices. The device may either be integrated into a stent and positioned in patient arteries or veins, enabling right atrial filling pressure and central venous pressure (CVP) measurement, which is a valuable indicator of right heart function. Further, the device requires no recalibration and can adapt to multiple configurations, offering flexibility in both materials and wearability. Compared with the current state-of-the-art, this innovation enables greater compliance with treatment by providing convenient, continuous monitoring capabilities for patients at risk of heart failure. With its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and adaptability, this breakthrough is poised to significantly advance biotechnology solutions and revolutionize patient monitoring.
Potential Applications:
● Early detection of cardiovascular symptoms
● Remote patient monitoring
● Integration with wearable devices, skin-applied sensors, and other external monitoring tools
● Continuous monitoring during surgery and recovery
● Real-time data for clinical trials
● Perioperative monitoring
Advantages:
● Real-time blood pressure monitoring
● Personalized data collection and clinical response
● Flexible patient-specific design
● Compact sensor with cost-effective insertion
● Wireless, battery-free, and no recalibration needed
● Wearable and implantable configurations
Status of Development:
Successful demonstration of invention: 01/24
Reference:
UCLA Case No. 2025-003
Lead Inventor:
Dr. Rory Geoghegan, Urology & Surgery