The problem
The major health threat of the 21st century is cardiovascular disease, killing one person every two seconds
Cardiovascular disease, encompassing heart and vascular-related conditions, remains the primary health threat in the 21st century, taking 17.9 million lives annually worldwide (World Health Organization data). Each year, approximately 60 million people develop cardiovascular diseases globally, with higher prevalence in developed countries and a significant rise in low-income and middle-income nations.
Conditions like coronary artery disease (affecting approximately 200 million globally) and peripheral artery disease (affecting about 110 million worldwide) result from blood vessel blockages due to the gradual buildup of plaques, known as atherosclerosis.
Aging, genetic predisposition, and lifestyle factors such as smoking, poor diet, and sedentary habits contribute to the development of atherosclerosis. Over time, these factors lead to narrowed arteries, hindering blood flow to the heart, raising the risk of adverse events like heart attacks (coronary arteries) or reducing flow to the lower limbs, causing symptoms like leg pain, critical limb ischemia elevating the risk of limb amputation, and associated cardiovascular events (peripheral vessels).
Lives taken from cardiovascular disease annually worldwide
People develop cardiovascular diseases annually worldwide
Vascular Graft Bypass Provides Solutions for those with advanced diseases
Despite initial pharmacotherapy with vasodilators or anticoagulants for symptomatic patients, surgical repair is essential for those with advanced diseases. Replacement or bypass of the affected vessels with vascular grafts is commonly performed (3.6 million per year globally), especially in the heart (coronary arteries) and legs (peripheral vessels), significantly improving patient prognoses.
Autologous veins are the most widely used grafts for bypassing small arteries in coronary and peripheral arterial occlusive diseases. Still, these vessels have limited availability and cause significant donor-site morbidity. As an alternative, synthetic grafts, including those made of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) (Dacron®), and polyurethane (PU), offer viable alternatives and are clinically approved.
Aging, genetic predisposition, and lifestyle factors such as smoking, poor diet, and sedentary habits contribute to the development of atherosclerosis. Over time, these factors lead to narrowed arteries, hindering blood flow to the heart, raising the risk of adverse events like heart attacks (coronary arteries) or reducing flow to the lower limbs, causing symptoms like leg pain, critical limb ischemia elevating the risk of limb amputation, and associated cardiovascular events (peripheral vessels).
Despite their transformative impact, vascular grafts face high failure rates, reaching up to 50% due to graft occlusion impeding blood flow.
Revolutionizing Healthcare with Blood2Power's Innovative Vascular Graft Technology
Revolutionizing Healthcare with Blood2Power's Innovative Vascular Graft Technology
The need
In our digital era, medical devices should be capable of sensing and monitoring their performance. They should be able to transmit data and alerts to the healthcare system through telemetric means, embracing the concept of the Internet of Medical Things (IoMTs). This integration would ensure that timely medical actions are taken to avoid device failure. While the implementation of IoMTs has taken its first steps, its full potential, particularly in implantable systems, remains constrained by several challenges that need to be overcome.
The solution
Blood2Power introduces a groundbreaking paradigm shift by proposing a novel power supply mechanism for powering the next-generation vascular graft, the iGraft. This innovative technology will be achieved by developing new triboelectric nanogenerators that convert mechanical energy from the body into electrical energy. By integrating a miniaturized ultra-low energy consumption power management unit and a wireless system with the vascular graft, we will be able to collect and wirelessly transmit signals to an external electronic device like a smartphone or watch. This will enable easy monitoring of the graft’s performance.
Impact
The iGraft introduces a revolutionary self-monitoring feature, reshaping vascular graft follow-up.
It eliminates the need for extensive imaging, cutting healthcare costs and hastening hospital releases. This is particularly important given the high failure rates of vascular grafts.
For instance, autologous vascular grafts for coronary artery bypass can experience failure rates of 17-37% for radial arteries and 40-50% for saphenous veins at ten years. Continuous monitoring is crucial in addressing these challenges.
iGraft: Saving Lives through Preventive Care
iGraft aims to prevent secondary events like myocardial infarction, stroke, or critical limb ischemia, which contribute to approximately 610,000 lives lost annually.
Beyond saving lives, it is estimated to enhance the quality of life for 3.6 million patients and generate €13.5 billion in healthcare system savings.
Moreover, the monitoring technology developed for iGraft has the potential for seamless integration into other medical devices, such as stents, stent-grafts, catheters, and more.
610,000
Lives saved annually
3.6 million
Patients' quality of life enhanced
€13.5 billion
Healthcare system savings
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Blood2Power Coordinator
