TECHNOLOGY/BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

For Pneumatic Steerable Catheters

Opportunity: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), operated by the Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS), LLC under contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is offering the opportunity to license the technology for Pneumatic Steerable Catheters.

Background: Catheters are used medically for many types of medical procedures. The common way to use the catheter is to introduce it into an artery in the leg or the arm and then to guide the catheter to its destination in the body. Many of these destinations, especially in the brain, require carful and time-consuming navigation.

Description: The present invention consists of a hollow catheter which has tubes around the circumference of the wall of the catheter. The catheter has a flexible silicone tip. The tubes are capable of being pressurized by fluids or gases. In response to the pressurization of a tube on one side of the catheter, the flexible tip of the catheter will bend in a direction opposite the location of the pressurized tube. This permits the doctor to "steer" the catheter by causing the tip to bend in the desired direction.

Advantages: This would permit a doctor to steer the catheter, which would permit more successful and faster medical procedures.

Potential Applications: Catheters for medical use.

Development Status: LLNL researchers have reduced the technology to practice and demonstrated a prototype. A video of the prototype is available. LLNL has filed a Provisional Patent application for the invention.

LLNL is seeking industry partners with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Moving critical technology beyond the Laboratory to the commercial world helps our licensees gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. All licensing activities are conducted under policies relating to the strict nondisclosure of company proprietary information.

Please visit the IPAC website at http://www.llnl.gov/IPandC/workwithus/partneringprocess.php

for more information on working with LLNL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process.

Note: THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT. Companies interested in commercializing LLNL's Pneumatic Steerable Catheter technology should provide a written statement of interest, which includes the following:

1. Company Name and address.

2. The name, address, and telephone number of a point of contact.

•3. A description of corporate expertise and facilities relevant to commercializing this technology.

Written responses should be directed to:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Industrial Partnerships and Commercialization

P.O. Box 808, L-795

Livermore, CA 94551-0808

Attention: FBO 185-08

Please provide your written statement within thirty (30) days from the date this announcement is published to ensure consideration of your interest in LLNL's Pneumatic Steerable Catheter technology.