Description:
Market Opportunity
There is a need to identify novel urinary catheter-free modalities for diagnosing VUR. Vesicoureteral reflux(VUR) is a condition that affects young children and infants where urine flows backwards from the bladder to the kidneys, resulting in kidney infections, damage, and even failure. VUR can be detected by voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG), but the method requires urinary catheterization and x-ray imaging, methods that are invasive, risky, and possibly traumatic for such young patients.
USC Solution and Value Proposition
USC researchers have developed an ultrasound contrast agent to visualize VUR. The technique employs a selectively-activated nanoparticle covalently loaded with CO2.The nanoparticle is small enough to filter through the kidneys, and the CO2 will be dispelled by the ultrasound energy once the compound is in the bladder. The effervescent CO2 will then visualize only in patients with VUR. This method would be a minimally invasive alternative to VCUG.
• Minimally invasive alternative to VCUG
• Contrast agent only shows up in patients with VUR
• No radiation exposure, invasive techniques, or emotionally traumatic procedures
Market Application
Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is a condition that affects young children and infants where urine flows backwards from the bladder to the kidneys, resulting in kidney infections, damage, and even failure. VUR can be detected by voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG), but the method requires urinary catheterization and x-ray imaging, methods that are invasive, risky, and possibly traumatic for such young patients. Consequently, the NIH has declared that developing a non- invasive VCUG technique should be a top research priority in pediatric urology.
Publications
J. Pediatri. Urol. 2025, DOI: 10.1016/j.jpurol.2025.01.003
Stage of Development and Applications
• Demonstrated in ex vivo models
• Imaging for vesicoureteral reflux