Thermocore Medical Systems

End to end product development

Cambridge Consultants undertook the complete development of a thermography system to diagnose vulnerable plaque for Thermocore.

The cardiovascular diagnostic device enables the investigation of previously undetectable areas within the heart. These areas, known as unstable or vulnerable plaque, are seen as the most likely cause of heart attack and subsequent death.

With heart disease being the number one killer in the western world, Thermosense could be a real lifesaver for many. Approximately 5 million catheterisation procedures are carried out annually world-wide in order to diagnose heart disease.

The system comprises a thermography catheter with a functional probe containing four tiny sensitive temperature sensors, known as thermistors. These engage with the surface of the artery after retraction of a protective sheath and perform up to 25 measurements per second, with an accuracy of 0.01 degrees Celsius, mapping the interior temperature of coronary arteries. A dedicated, catheter-specific pullback device holds the catheter and is capable of withdrawing it with thermistors engaged with the artery's surface at an operator-defined speed. The thermography catheter is connected to a console which overlays the data acquired on to the conventional angiographic image in a visual, real time and clinician-friendly format.

A multi-disciplinary team of mechanical, materials, software, electronics and industrial design engineers were led by an experienced biomedical engineer to develop the catheter, a pullback device and the console.  Our fast track programme went from concept to clinical trials in one year and CE Mark in 18 months.