Grant: Collaborative Health Research Projects (NSERC partnered)

"Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the number one killer in Canada, and ~90,000 stents are implanted in Canadians with CAD every year. This research project targets novel types of stents, ''smart'' sensing stents, in order to address current serious limitations in the diagnosis of stented patients. Our ''smart stents'' function as radiofrequency (RF) wireless sensors, offering an innovative means to enable early detection of stent-induced complications which is non-invasive, long-term and cost-effective. The stent will be developed to serve as an RF antenna, with micro pressure sensors embedded to wirelessly sense local blood pressure at multiple points. This revolutionary stent technology allows us to detect signs of re-narrowing of arteries at the stented site due to tissue/blood-clot formation or failures of the implant in asymptomatic stages by tracking changes in the sensed pressures that will occur as a problem arises. ''Smart'' stents will allow a physician to check the patient's status using a portable reader at a clinic, or remotely through a broadband network, and perform an immediate diagnosis. With access to timely and detailed information, physicians will be able to intervene at earlier stages. The smart stent will contribute to improving the lives of Canadians suffering from CAD and, in some cases, saving their lives. The development of the smart stent is driven by the micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) and microfabrication technologies available at UBC. We will design and develop antenna stents, or stentennas, that offer high performance in both wireless pressure sensing and mechanical scaffold functionalities. We will develop micro capacitive pressure sensors which can be integrated with the stentennas to achieve battery-less, permanent operation of reliable wireless pressure sensing. The smart stent will also be developed to have microelectronic chips embedded in the stentenna and be RF-powered to enhance signal readout and transmission. We will study new materials for biocompatible coating to provide anti-fouling/-thrombotic features and enable long-term operation of the devices. The prototypes will be tested with in-vitro and animal in-vivo models for performance improvement and optimization. In the long-term, it is anticipated that the developed technologies will be adopted in other types of stent and stent-graft products for a broad range of health care applications that will improve the health and well being of Canadians. "