WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.—The Canadian Intellectual Property Office has awarded a patent to Vasc-Alert for its vascular access surveillance software.
The technology helps dialysis providers perform surveillance on a patient's vascular access site, which is the connection between the patient and a dialysis machine.
Vasc-Alert LLC, based in the Purdue Research Park, holds the exclusive worldwide license for the technology. The device was developed by researchers in the Department of Nephrology and Hypertension at the Detroit-based Henry Ford Health System, which owns the Canadian patent. The researchers previously had been awarded a patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
The software-based, data-driven medical device tests an access site to determine which patients might be developing a stenosis, or narrowing of the blood vessel, that may decrease the effectiveness of dialysis treatment. A stenosis that is left untreated may develop into a thrombosis, or complete blood clot, putting the patient at risk of losing the access site.
The technology measures and automatically trends a patient's intra-access pressure. Weekly reports that identify patients with elevated pressure trends are sent to the dialysis center to prompt early referrals for interventions of a patient's access site.
Doug Curry, vice president of Vasc-Alert, said the technology utilizes standard observational data collected during treatments.
"We benefit patients and hemodialysis center clients equally. Patients' quality of life is paramount, but cost also is important," Curry said. "We provide a unique solution for our clients because they can use our surveillance service to provide high-quality patient outcomes without squeezing resources."
Curry explained how the Canadian patent would positively affect the company's business.
"The patent gives us the ability to begin our international expansion. Canada will be our first international market, and we have filed patents internationally for the same technology in multiple countries," he said. "We are actively pursuing marketing partners who understand the benefits that proactive vascular access surveillance plays for patients in maintenance hemodialysis."
