Stent Detector for Locating Implanted Device
University of Pittsburgh researchers have developed a low-cost detector based on electromagnetic fields (EMF), to determine the location of stents where advanced imaging is not available. Stents are commonly used in trauma medicine to stem the flow of a bleed in battlefield or civilian settings before advanced care in a hospital. In the absence of imaging, placement of the stent can be complex and cause further damage. Through accurate location of a stent position, this novel device could dramatically improve out-of-hospital management of hemorrhage.
Description
Penetrating torso injuries account for roughly one in four of all military injuries. In advanced clinical settings, these injuries may be survivable. However, in the battlefield, without imaging or specialist care and compounded by the need for patient extraction, the risk of complications rises. Given the rates of these injuries have increased in recent conflicts, a need exists for a method to accurately locate a stent in remote settings without imaging.Applications
- Hemorrhage from penetrating torso injuries- Battlefield and remote medical interventions including stabilizing patients for evacuation
Advantages
Stents previously designed for use in battlefield settings may be incorrectly placed due to the absence of imaging. The procedure can lead to blocked vital arteries which branch from the aorta, including hepatic and splenic arteries, which can result in sepsis, and even death.This novel device has been designed to locate the stent to within 1 cm accuracy using a magnetometer attached to the stent and an external EMF source, making this solution low cost and easy to deploy.