Stretchable catheter reveals high-risk plaque that could cause heart attacks

Stretchable electronics integrated into a balloon catheter could reveal dangerous plaque within arteries, helping doctors to avoid heart attacks in patients.

Developed by Hangbo Zhao at the University of Southern California (USC), the new catheter earned an award from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), which supports early-stage researchers who combine engineering, physical sciences and life sciences to tackle important biomedical challenges.

Plaque can build up in arteries, taking the form of fatty deposits that can potentially restrict blood flow. Some deposits remain stable for years, while others accumulate and increase the likelihood of rupture. When this happens, a blood clot can cause a heart attack or stroke by blocking blood flow to the heart or the brain.

Zhao’s device uses electrical measurements to reveal features of arterial plaque that conventional imaging is not able to capture. “Rather than replacing existing imaging technologies, the catheter is designed to provide physicians with additional information about plaque composition and metabolic activity,” he said.

“Blood vessels present a particularly demanding engineering challenge because they are soft, curved and constantly in motion, while the electronics inside most medical devices remain rigid.”

His research group set out to tackle that problem by developing mechanics-driven manufacturing techniques to fabricate multilayered stretchable circuits from liquid metal, allowing the sensing surface to conform closely to the artery while maintaining reliable electrical performance.

The stretchable electronics were integrated on to a balloon catheter that can be threaded through narrow arteries in a compact configuration. Once the catheter reaches the target site, the balloon is gently inflated so the electronics make close, uniform contact with the vessel wall. “This close contact is essential for obtaining consistent electrical measurements around the artery, allowing the device to create a three-dimensional map that could help physicians identify plaque at greater risk of rupture,” a USC announcement said.

The NIBIB award will support a collaboration with Tzung Hsiai, professor of medicine and bioengineering at University of California, Los Angeles. The two research groups will evaluate the technology in animal models of cardiovascular disease, providing an opportunity to assess how the device performs under physiologically realistic conditions.

“I’m thrilled by this award because it enables us to translate our advances in soft electronics manufacturing into next-generation surgical tools,” Zhao said. “This project has the potential to enable significant medical advances by introducing flexible devices that seamlessly integrate with living tissue.”