INTELLIGENT FIBER OPTIC SYSTEMS CORP — Department of Health and Human Services SBIR Phase I: NHLBI

Description

SUMMARY Obstructive sleep apneaOSAis a prevalent debilitating disease characterized by periods of suffocation during sleep and increased risk of heart failure and strokeCurrent diagnostic methods are effective at identifying the disease but provide little guidance in selecting among treatment optionsIFOS has developed innovative sensor technologyand is proposing to develop a device that measures pressure within the airway and can locate blockagesThe device will provide a new diagnostic data to the sleep professionallocation information about the airway collapseThe availability of this data to a treating physician offers guidance in selecting treatment options while retaining compatibility with current diagnostic practicesIn candidates for surgical interventionfor examplean upper airway collapse observed in the palatal region indicates consideration of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty or radiofrequency ablation of the soft palatewhile lower level obstructions indicate different interventions such as radiofrequency ablation of the tongue or maxillomandibular advancementThe research will measure each of the four criteria for a successful programsensitivityconfirming airway obstruction every time indicated by polysomnographyspecificitydistinguishing apnea events from hypopnea eventsdefinitenessproviding unambiguous information on location of airway collapseandeffectivenessimproving the treatment of sleep apnea patientsThe proposed device offers benefits for patientsphysicians and techniciansFor the patientthe new sensor offers greater comfort during polysomnography due to the smaller diameter and lighter weight of the IFOS sensorFor the sleep technicianinsertionmonitoringand removal procedures remain unchanged because we retain the stiffness and elasticity of existing manometry cannulasPhysicians will be empowered to make better treatment choices and create better outcomesThe replacement of existing manometers with IFOS sensors aims at improving patient outcomes and cuts coststhus providing better clinical economiesThe IFOS team has an excellent track record in the development of fiber optic sensor networks for biotechnology applicationsWe are working closely with esteemed medical professionals from the UCSFStanford Health Services Sleep Clinic to ensure that the program stays focused on the right objectives and achieves a high level of success PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE STATEMENTPROJECT NARRATIVE ATTACHMENTIFOS proposes a low costdurabledisposableaccuratenetworkable pressure sensing array would be ideal for real time mapping of airway obstructions in patients suffering from impaired breathingparticularly for use in the treatment obstructive sleep apneaOSAThis Phase I research aims to demonstrate the feasibility of a novel integrated distributed pressure micro sensor platformconsisting of an interrogation system and an array of fiber optic sensorsto accurately and comfortably diagnose OSA and aid in treatment choice