The next iteration of Abiomed‘s Impella heart assist pump may be getting an optical pressure sensor built by Opsens of Quebec, Canada. A partnership just announced between the two companies includes plans to integrate Opsens’ fiber optic sensors into the Impella to help clinicians monitor intracardiac/intraarterial pressure in real time.
From the press release:
Through this latest enhancement, Opsens’ fiber optic sensors will be integrated into the Impella catheter and will allow for further improvements in set-up time, as well as provide a high-quality pressure monitoring capability that can eventually be used to help automate the control and operation of the Impella pump. Unlike current fiber optic sensors used on other cardiac assist devices today such as certain Intra-Aortic Balloons (IABs), Opsens’ fiber optic sensor is designed to provide longer-term accuracy and reliability.
Features and benefits of the pressure technology from an Opsens brochure:
High fidelity pressure measurements with no hysteresis, motion artifact, and signal drift High frequency response preserves signal integrity and prevents damping of signal Lesser invasive catheterization practices with catheter size reduction Increase functionality with immunity to MR, RF, MW, EM and electro surgery environments Easy integration without complicated wire harness leads to manufacturing cost reduction and high production yield
Press release: Abiomed Announces Partnership with Opsens to Utilize Sensor Technology for Impella…
Link: Opsens’ cardiovascular blood pressure monitoring technology…
Opsens’ fiber optic pressure sensor brochure…
Impella flashbacks: Video of Impella 2.5 Heart Assist Pump Used in Minimally Invasive Procedure; Abiomed Reports New Positive Impella 2.5 Results; Impella 2.5 Heart Pump Performs Well in a Feasibility Trial; Impella 2.5 Heart Pump Given Green Light in US; Impella Percutaneous VAD to be Studied for Acute MI Patients
