The Korean start-up company developing a bio-medical microrobot system which uses electromagnetic field system for treating various vascular disease is looking for partnership in the European region for cooperative research and development

Summary

The Korean company is looking for partners under a technical cooperation agreement who are developing/producing methods and apparatus for CT and X-ray image registration which displays a real-time 3D image of blood vessels and the precise location of the guidewire inside the patients’ body. The company is also looking for partners developing/producing a master slave system for in/out manipulation (translational motion) of magnetic guidewire microrobot during interventional procedures.

Description

The conventional method for interventional treatment is to manually manipulate the guidewire inside the patients’ body by hand. This limits active steering of the guidewire and is highly dependent on the experience of the operator, which potentially leads to varied success rate. The conventional method and procedure take longer, and since steering guidewire fully depends on the operator’s skills, it increases the amount of radiation exposure for both patient and the operator. It also limits the accessible blood vessels of the cardiovascular system.

The company suggests magnetic guidewire microrobot and 3D magnetic control system for its manipulation for precise interventional treatment and is seeking to overcome the limits of conventional methods and maximize the efficiency and success rate. Electromagnetic coils generate an electromagnetic field, which is harmless to the human body, and allow active steering of magnetic guidewire inside blood vessels. This allows the operator to deliver the guidewire and other necessary medical equipment to the targeted lesions with more safety, precision, and quickness.

Bio-medical microrobot system is composed of magnetic guidewire microrobot, current control unit, the user interface for magnetic field control and microrobot visualization, and electromagnetic coils that are placed and fixed under the patients’ bed. This allows the medical team and the operator to easily approach the patient when in need. Electromagnetic coils are designed in a way that is compatible with conventional medical image equipment such as X-rays. Electromagnetic coils can be uninstalled/unfixed after use and kept secured separately until next use. Once the equipment has been removed, the surgery room can be used for other purposes. Hence, there is no need for an exclusive surgery room for the system.

The Korean company is looking for partnerships with organizations for cooperative research and development under technical cooperation agreements that are developing 3D medical imaging equipment, and a master slave system for entry/withdrawal control of the guidewire.

The company wishes to contract partnership with organizations developing/producing methods and apparatus for a medical imaging equipment that combines X-ray, CT images or any other types of images and form a 3D image (Image registration). This image should be able to display a real-time 3D image of blood vessels with the precise location of the magnetic guidewire for the operator to navigate the guidewire inside the patients’ body.

The company is also seeking partnership with companies developing/producing a master slave system for entry/withdrawal of guidewires during interventional procedures. The electromagnetic field provides 360-degree steering of the guidewire, however, as master slave system is needed for its entry/withdrawal control.

Expertise sought

A master slave system: Partnered organization is expected to have technical expertise in production/development of master slave system that controls the in/out movement of guidewires during interventional treatment.

A 3D image equipment: Partnered organization is expected to be engaged in production/development of a medical image equipment that combines X-ray, CT or others to form a 3D image that displays a real-time image of blood vessel and precise location of guidewire inserted inside the patient.

Stage of Development

Prototype available for demonstration

Requested Partner

The company is looking for a cooperative research and development partnership under a technical cooperation agreement with organizations that are interested in next generation technology for interventional treatments.

The company wishes to contract partnership with organizations developing/producing method and apparatus for medical imaging equipment that combines X-ray, CT images or any other types of images and forms a 3D image (Image registration). This image should be able to display a real-time 3D image of blood vessels with precise location of the magnetic guidewire for the operator to navigate the guidewire inside the patients’ body.

The company is also seeking partnership with companies developing/producing a master slave system for entry/withdrawal of guidewires during interventional procedures. Electromagnetic field provide a 360-degree steering of the guidewire, however, as master slave system is needed for its entry/withdrawal control.

A master slave is usually described as a remotely controlled pair of system for manipulating guidewires/catheters in interventional procedures. When the operator manipulates one side (Master), the other side (Slave) operates as the operators’ manipulation. It enables the operator to remotely control the entry/withdrawal of guidewires/catheters.
However, if not the master slave system, the company is also open to other innovative forms of technology with the identical function and purposes. The Korean company is looking forward to ultimately integrate the bio-medical microrobot system with the according technology on a single device such as joystick/handle as future development.