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Treating Diseased Coronary Arteries with Microwave Energy

    › Benefits
    › Applications
    › Patent
    › Licensing and Partnering Opportunity
    › Contact Information

Innovators at NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC) have patented an apparatus and method to treat atherosclerosis. The technology repairs diseased coronary arteries during cardiac catheterization by delivering microwave energy (3-300 gigahertz for less than a second) to precise artery locations to selectively target and heat atherosclerotic lesions while preserving the most superficial endothelial cell layer. Preservation of the endothelium cell layer is especially important for preventing thrombotic, inflammatory, and proliferative processes that complicate angioplastic procedures. The temperature profile can be customized to the size, shape, and type of lesion being treated. JSC has received patent number 6,496,736 for this technology.


Benefits
  • Effective: Treats atherosclerosis without injuring the delicate endothelium
  • Customized: Tailors treatment to the requirements of each procedure
  • Minimal side-effects: Limits long-term problems associated with invasive arterial interventions

Applications
  • Atherosclerosis treatment

Patent

Johnson Space Center has received patent protection (U.S. 6,496,736→) for this technology.


Licensing and Partnering Opportunity

This technology is being made available through JSC’s Technology Transfer and Commercialization Office, which seeks to transfer technology into and out of NASA to benefit the space program and U.S. industry. NASA invites companies to consider licensing this technology for commercial applications.


Contact Information

If you would like more information about this technology or about NASA’s technology transfer program, please contact:

Technology Transfer and Commercialization Office
NASA’s Johnson Space Center
Phone: 281-483-3809
E-mail: jsc-techtran@mail.nasa.gov
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