CorNova Inc. is hoping to take stents to a new level by integrating fiberoptic technology into existing balloon catheter design.
The Burlington medical device manufacturer is developing balloon catheters designed to measure blood vessels from within the balloon during procedures, with an eye toward reducing incidences of stent restenosis (thrombosis), Mass High Tech reported.
CEO Eric Ryan told the newspaper that CorNova’s FiberHalo catheters use a fiberoptic wire to measure blood vessels, a technique the company believes will be an upgrade over the low-resolution fluoroscopy or intravascular ultrasound imaging procedures currently used.
The device helps physicians determine whether a stent is properly deployed in a blood vessel, identifying portions that may not have fully expanded. If that’s the case, CorNova’s FiberHalo post-dilation catheter can be used to re-inflate the ballon and correct the problem.
The company is also developing a pre-dilatation catheter device aimed at identifying the composition of arterial plaque so doctors can choose the optimum stent for the patient’s condition.
Pre-clinical trials for the FiberHalo device are slated for this year, but Ryan told the newspaper there are no set deadlines for getting the device to market.