Researchers at the University of Calgary (UCalgary) have developed a new bio-sensor to check the biocompatibility of medical devices and implants.
The bio-sensor detects and measures clot formation on biomaterials using electromagnetic radiation.
According to UCalgary, medical devices and implants, such as catheters, heart valves, and stents, supports the diagnosing and treatment of cardiovascular conditions. However, they can lead to blood clots when in contact with body fluids like blood and plasma.
These clots can pose serious risks, potentially causing symptoms that may lead to heart attacks, strokes, organ damage, and even death.
Maryam Badv, an assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the Schulich School of Engineering stated that medical device-related clotting is a billion-dollar problem for the healthcare sector. The previous techniques for assessing materials have been limited and do not reliably predict their behaviour once inside the body.
Badv said: “When devices are used in the clinic, they come into contact with blood and other biological fluids and, historically, there hasn’t been an accurate test for that.”
To address the issue, Badv and the Translational Biomedical Engineering Lab partnered with Zahra Abbasi, an assistant professor in Electrical and Software Engineering at Schulich.
Abbasi leads the Calgary Sensor Lab, which specialises in using radio frequency and microwave systems for real-time sensing and detection.
Badv and Abbasi recently received a 2023 New Frontiers in Research Fund grant, which supports cross-disciplinary collaborations.
Both partners developed the sensor to detect clot formation, regardless of sample size, type, or testing fluid.
Abbasi said: “This unique approach relies on the interaction between the sensor’s engineered electromagnetic waves and the surface we are testing.
“We see this monitoring device as a necessary step in biomaterial development and testing, which also contributes to the future policy development around the safety assessment of the medical implants.”
Badv believes the sensor will be a valuable tool in her lab and hopes others will benefit from it as well.
In August this year, the University of Calgary and the Cornell University secured partnering awards for joint breast cancer detection research.
