Cardiologist Dr. Rajeev Lochan presented details of the research.
New Delhi: Senior cardiologist Dr. Rajeev Lochan presented details of this research at the plenary session of the 32nd Annual All India Meeting of the Indian College of Cardiology (ICCCON 2025) in Varanasi on September 19, 2025.
This research was initiated because iodine-based dye is essential for angiography and angioplasty. Although it records beautiful images, it causes damage to the kidneys. In this process, it overloads the system and can even cause heart failure in some patients. Acute kidney injury (AKI) that develops after this procedure requires kidney dialysis for varying periods. This emotionally impacted Dr. Lochan, and about 15 years ago, he began thinking about a safer procedure that could protect these patients.
An innovative, ultra-soft balloon imaging angiography system (BIAS) has been developed that does not cause acute kidney damage or aggravate heart failure. It is user-friendly, based on a simple and safe technology. After a series of laboratory tests, followed by CDSCO approval, a safe product was developed and used in selected patients.
This procedure involves an ultra-soft, highly compliant balloon that is placed in the targeted vessel and filled with dilute contrast. During angiography, X-ray images showing vascular details are recorded. If the iodine contrast is completely expelled, there is no harm to heart failure or kidneys because no iodine-based dye is injected into the human vascular system.
The Balloon Imaging Angiography System (BIAS) also detects inadequate expansion of stent struts and confirms the use of non-compliant balloon dilation to complete the stent procedure. It also eliminates the need for expensive OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography), which requires the destruction of excess iodine contrast.
This new method, the Balloon Imaging Angiography System (BIAS), developed by Dr. Lochan, is, in practice, a simple, user-friendly, effective, and cost-effective alternative to routine angiography. Furthermore, it offers protection against kidney damage and heart failure. This procedure was recently granted a full patent by the US Patent and Trademark Office. The topic generated keen interest among both senior angiography experts and younger representatives, who asked numerous questions to gain detailed information about the new procedure.
