EndoGuard

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) is a serious medical condition where the aorta enlarges abnormally, leading to significant health risks. In the U.S., AAA results in over 1.5 million new diagnoses and 30,000 deaths annually, with healthcare costs exceeding $9 billion​. The condition often remains asymptomatic until rupture, which has a mortality rate over 85%​. The primary treatment for AAA is Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR), a minimally invasive procedure performed in over 80% of cases. EVAR involves inserting an endograft to shield the arterial walls from blood pressure. However, around 25% of the 120,000 annual EVAR procedures encounter type II endoleak, a complication where blood flows back into the aneurysm sac, posing a risk of rupture. Reinterventions for type II endoleak have a high failure rate, with 60% not achieving permanent resolution due to challenges like incomplete vessel embolization and migration of embolic materials, resulting in repeated procedures and significant risk​​ of rupture.

The economic burden of managing type II endoleak is substantial, with annual costs exceeding $500 million in the U.S. alone. Each reintervention costs over $22,000, and patients often require multiple procedures, potentially leading to total costs exceeding $100,000 per patient. This does not account for additional expenses related to surveillance imaging, decreased quality of life, and fatalities from untreated aneurysm ruptures. EndoGuard offers an innovative solution by integrating a Doppler Ultrasound (DUS) transducer for real-time imaging with a High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (FUS) transducer for vessel occlusion. This allows precise targeting and coagulation of collateral vessels without damaging surrounding tissue, eliminating the need for incisions, catheter navigation, or radiation exposure. EndoGuard significantly reduces reintervention times and medical resource utilization while improving patient outcomes and lowering costs.