Significant improvement
A balloon catheter is connected with a tube, often of considerable length, to a pressure sensor. In this way, a significant portion of the pressure signal is lost in the pathway. 'It gives, in short, a less accurate insight into the patient's situation,' Flink clarified. 'It is a nice, but somewhat outdated technique. With our catheter, thanks in part to the integrated sensor, we are improving pressure measurement. After all, you measure the pressure directly where you want to measure it. Very accurately, catching any change in pressure. Moreover, properly inflating the balloon of the balloon catheter takes time. With our catheter, on the other hand, it is a matter of correcting, inserting and measuring once. And that measurement is also done five days in a row, continuously. So also in terms of clinical workload, we are providing a huge improvement.'
From left to right: Niels van Rheenen, Rik Schaart, Rick Boerma and Rutger Flink