Development of a Brain Catheter for Optical Coherence Tomography in Advanced Cerebrovascular Diagnostics
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has been extensively utilized in cardiovascular diagnostics due to its high resolution, rapid imaging capabilities; however, its adaptation for cerebrovascular applications remains constrained by the narrow, tortuous anatomical structure of cerebral vessels. To address these limitations, this study introduces a cerebrovascular-specific OCT (bOCT) catheter, an advanced adaptation of the cardiovascular OCT (cOCT) catheter, with significant structural modifications for improved access to brain blood vessels. The bOCT catheter incorporates a braided wire within a braided tube, strategically reinforcing axial strength. The distal shaft was reconfigured as a single-lumen structure, facilitating unified movement of the rotating fiber optic core and guidewire, thereby reducing guidewire bending and augmenting force transmission stability. Additionally, the anterior protrusion was removed and replaced with a dual-lumen configuration, significantly enhancing lesion accessibility. The bOCT catheter's performance was validated in a 3D physical model and an animal model, demonstrating pronounced enhancements in flexibility, pushability, and navigability. Notably, the pushability through curved flow paths significantly improved, enhancing access to cerebral blood vessels. Therefore, this innovation promises to revolutionize cerebrovascular diagnostics with high-resolution imaging suited to the complex brain vasculature, setting a new standard in intravascular imaging technology.
Source: Biosensors
DOI: 10.3390/bios15030170
Institutions: Keimyung University, Keimyung University Dongsan Hospital
Language: English
Subfield: Biomedical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,654
Awards: G3328731095, G7277400170
OpenAlex ID: W4408187202