Prof. Katia Bertoldi

Soft, Stent-Like Device for Blood Pressure Control

Professor Katia Bertoldi, William and Ami Kuan Danoff Professor of Applied Mechanics, Harvard SEAS

Project Overview

Problem: High blood pressure affects nearly half of US adults. Medication to reduce high blood pressure must be taken daily and almost 20% of people with hypertension cannot be successfully treated with these medicines.

Proposed Solution: Researchers in the lab of Professor Katia Bertoldi are developing a soft, stent-like device to mitigate high blood pressure peaks. It does this by using a compliant, deformable surface with a precisely-tailored geometry that senses and dissipates unhealthy blood pressures automatically, without the need for any electronics or batteries. The device eliminates the need for daily medication, allowing people who can’t be treated effectively with pharmaceuticals to live healthier lives.

Interested in this technology? Send a note to grid@harvard.edu. They are currently seeking partners in academia and industry to collaborate on further developments.