Development Of Miniaturized Microwave Catheter Antennas And Monitoring Systems For Transcatheter Ablation For The Cure O
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$161,500.00
Summary
The development of microwave cardiac ablation system is crucial to the development towards a permanent cure for cardiac arrhythmias. Cardiac ablation using microwave energy can overcome the limitations of current ablative energy such as laser and RF ablation. Based on the combined knowledge and experience of UTS and Westmead hospital researchers, the proposed research is to develop a working prototype of cardiac ablation system using microwave energy based on our patent. The ultimate aim would b ....The development of microwave cardiac ablation system is crucial to the development towards a permanent cure for cardiac arrhythmias. Cardiac ablation using microwave energy can overcome the limitations of current ablative energy such as laser and RF ablation. Based on the combined knowledge and experience of UTS and Westmead hospital researchers, the proposed research is to develop a working prototype of cardiac ablation system using microwave energy based on our patent. The ultimate aim would be to attract interested industry parties to take up for full production and commercialisation.Read moreRead less
Improved electrophysiological mapping techniques have enhanced understanding of arrhythmia mechanisms and the development of curative ablation strategies. Advanced mapping systems utilize online visualization of catheters, 3D geometry, and annotation of ablation sites. To date, all commercially available systems rely on proprietary equipment to locate catheter positions and reconstruct chamber shape from multiple site recordings. Thus, cost is prohibitive, limiting widespread availability. An al ....Improved electrophysiological mapping techniques have enhanced understanding of arrhythmia mechanisms and the development of curative ablation strategies. Advanced mapping systems utilize online visualization of catheters, 3D geometry, and annotation of ablation sites. To date, all commercially available systems rely on proprietary equipment to locate catheter positions and reconstruct chamber shape from multiple site recordings. Thus, cost is prohibitive, limiting widespread availability. An alternative approach has emerged with the use of CT-MRI imaging and analysis. Novel techniques extract images of the endocardial surface from CT-MRI for use in electrophysiological mapping. This surface can be used as the chamber geometry instead of reconstruction based on expensive technology measuring spatial coordinates of the catheter tip inside heart. The proposed Anatomical Template Mapping System (ATMS) will generate maps of electrophysiological parameters derived from catheter recordings without the need for proprietary equipment. The physician will direct the virtual catheter position onto the 3D model of the chamber, obviating the need for equipment to map the spatial distribution of the catheters. The major advantage is that, without the need for specialized equipment, this method of mapping is substantially cheaper and can be used with any conventional electrophysiological mapping systems. Furthermore, it will provide the most important feature of the advanced mapping systems - an understanding of the arrhythmia mechanism.Read moreRead less
Development Of A New High Throughput Screen For Drug Binding To HERG K+ Channels
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$351,320.00
Summary
Inadvertent drug block of hERG, a potassium channel in the heart, can cause cardiac arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Screening for hERG toxicity has become a major hurdle for development of new drugs. We will use a mutant hERG protein that has enhanced drug binding to develop a high throughput test for hERG toxicity. Identification of dangerous drugs early in the drug discovery process will save the pharmaceutical industry millions of dollars in the costs of brining new drugs to market.
Performance And Safety Testing Of The BioQ Cardiac Assist System In A Chronic Ovine Heart Failure Animal Model
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$142,800.00
Summary
This proposal will test a novel cardiac assist system in safety and performance studies using a chronic sheep heart failure model. This device has been tested in cardiovascular simulators and in an acute animal model showing attractive proof-of-concept data. Specifically, the device increased left coronary artery blood flow and reduced aortic pulse and mean pressures using our novel self-powered fully implantable stand alone device, a potential therapy treatment for heart failure.
Development Of Novel Methods For Non-invasive Measurement Of Cardiac Output And Lung Volume During Anaesthesia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$257,970.00
Summary
In Australia approximately 2 million anaesthetic procedures are performed annually. Approximately one patient in 20,000 dies during or shortly after an anaesthetic from complications related to the anaesthetic itself, and as many as one in 170 suffers severe complications. Mortality and severe morbidity are often ultimately associated with lack of oxygen in the tissues. Oxygen is transported from the lungs to the tissues by the blood. The oxygen content of arterial blood is monitored by pulse ox ....In Australia approximately 2 million anaesthetic procedures are performed annually. Approximately one patient in 20,000 dies during or shortly after an anaesthetic from complications related to the anaesthetic itself, and as many as one in 170 suffers severe complications. Mortality and severe morbidity are often ultimately associated with lack of oxygen in the tissues. Oxygen is transported from the lungs to the tissues by the blood. The oxygen content of arterial blood is monitored by pulse oximetry during every anaesthetic, but blood flow is not. Cardiac output is measured in only a very small proportion of anaesthetised patients using intravenous catheters that pass through the heart to the lungs. This procedure is invasive and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. At present there is no easy way to monitor cardiac output non-invasively during anaesthesia. Our proposed research project, currently underway in conjunction with an industrial partner, is aimed at the development of a reliable, rapidly repeating, non-invasive method for monitoring total cardiac output and lung volume in every patient who has an anaesthetic. The purpose of the new monitor is to ensure that potential problems with oxygen supply to the tissues are detected and corrected promptly. Our new monitoring technique is computer-controlled, can function without intervention by the anaesthetist and has very few side-effects. It can be added to any anaesthetic machine. Such a measurement technique is likely to have an impact on anaesthesia similar to that of pulse oximetry in the 1980's, and, if suitably adapted, is likely to find applications in other fields, such as intensive care, sports medicine, the respiratory function laboratory and in veterinary medicine.Read moreRead less