Contactless Bioimpedance Sensing
Detecting and Sensing Transplant Rejection
Principal Investigator: Georg Wieselthaler, MD
Challenge
Every transplanted tissue and solid organ bears the risk of rejection, which can result in loss of the transplanted organ, resumption of the illness, and death. Currently, the status of transplanted organs is monitored by period biopsies and tracking various inflammation and rejection markers via blood tests. The ability to continuously monitor transplanted organs would enable detection of early stages of rejection, allowing for a more rapid response and the potential to maintain organ function without subsequent surgery.
Solution
Our group is developing a contactless, implantable sensor that can continuously monitor transplanted tissue status. By monitoring the electrical signature of transplanted tissue, this device can identify the early signs of tissue rejection and alert clinicians, enabling rapid preventative intervention.
Honors & Awards
Surgical Innovations Accelerator (Spring 2015)