FOLDABLE POLYMER STENT INTEGRATED WITH WIRELESS PRESSURE SENSOR FOR BLOOD PRESSURE MONITORING

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in worldwide. One of the main diseases is atherosclerosis, in which plaques build up in the walls of the arteries, causing them to narrow gradually. This narrowing effect of the arteries blocks blood flow and interrupts oxygen supply. One of the most common treatments utilized in the narrowed vessel is the insertion of a stent into the blood vessel. However, despite various stents decreasing the risk of recurrence, in-stent restenosis keeps the possibility of late thrombosis and subsequent heart attack. Therefore, to reveal restenosis at an early stage, non-invasive and accessible methods are required. The proposed new fabrication method for integrating wireless pressure sensor and foldable polymer stent is based on MEMS processes. Photosensitive polymer SU-8 was utilized as a body of mesh stent structure and LC wireless pressure sensor. Wireless pressure sensor connection and working principle was evaluated based on inductance and capacitance coupling circuit.