Innovative Student-Designed Device Aims to Improve Cardiac Imaging Procedures

Irregular heart rhythms impact over 4 million Americans, often requiring cardiac ablation treatments. This invasive procedure involves inserting flexible catheters through blood vessels to target specific areas of the heart, with real-time ultrasound imaging from inside the heart being crucial for guiding the process. However, a significant challenge during these procedures is maintaining the position of the imaging catheter. Typically, a second medical professional is needed solely to hold the catheter steady, which can be inefficient and resource-intensive.

Addressing this issue, a team of six senior engineering students from Rice University—known as AnchorCat—developed a device that stabilizes the intracardiac echocardiography catheter, enabling the primary surgeon to have precise control without requiring an extra hand. Their project was initiated by a challenge from the Texas Heart Institute, guided by clinical mentors Dr. Mehdi Razavi and Dr. Feng Gao, who provided ongoing feedback and helped ensure the device met clinical needs.

The students designed a system featuring a stable, weighted base for overall stability, a rotator with a ratcheting mechanism for accurate torque control, and a fixator ensuring the catheter handle remains securely in place while allowing access to its controls. Throughout development, the team refined their prototype, transitioning from a bulky articulating arm to a sleek, compact device. Their final model was a high-fidelity 3D-printed prototype made from polylactic acid plastic, integrated with commercial springs and bearings previously tested in animal models.

The team has filed a provisional patent, formed an LLC, and is currently in talks with medical device companies to license the design. The project left a lasting impression on team members, inspiring future careers in medicine, engineering, and biomedical innovation. Several team members plan to pursue further studies or careers in medical research, while the project also reinforced their sense of community and collaboration at Rice University.

Recognized for their innovation and potential impact, Team AnchorCat secured third place at the 2025 Huff OEDK Engineering Design Showcase and was a finalist at the National Design of Medical Devices Conference. Their work exemplifies the promising intersection of engineering and healthcare, driven by student ingenuity and mentorship.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-heart-student-device-imaging-cardiac.html