Sioux contributes to new diagnostic technology for heart disease

Sioux Technologies, Dutch medical device manufacturer Wellinq and UK-based medical fiber-optic sensing specialist Echopoint Medical are launching a new technology to detect heart disease. The Ikor diagnostic device uses glass fibers and laser light to accurately map blood flow in the tiny blood vessels around the heart. Traditional angiograms focus on the large coronary arteries where small details aren’t clearly visible.

The partners expect that the Ikor device will help thousands of heart patients. Especially women with heart disease will benefit substantially, as problems often arise in the tiny blood vessels that are overlooked. Ikor was recently successfully tested on the first three patients during clinical trials at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London.

“The collaboration with Sioux has resulted in a user-friendly software application and electro-optical console, where blood flow and blood pressure can be easily and safely measured with just the push of a button,” comments Echopoint COO Nijs van der Vaart. “By implementing laser light in the human heart, this technology must meet the very highest safety requirements. This challenge makes our contribution extra special and valuable,” adds Koen Smits, senior account manager at Sioux.