A Biomimetic Active Electrolocation Sensor for Detection of Atherosclerotic Lesions in Blood Vessels

Weakly electric fish sense their surroundings in complete darkness by active electrolocation. In a biomimetic approach, we designed catheter-based technical sensor systems working according to the same biological principles that could be used for medical diagnostics of arteriosclerosis. Several measurements using artificial blood vessels, computer simulations, and a physical test bed showed that it is possible to detect and analyze vulnerable plaques in blood vessels and that our method of signal production and analysis is principally suitable for medical diagnostics.