# data[].attributes.headline
New Injectable Gel Keeps Heart Failure at Bay

# data[].attributes.subject
New Injectable Gel Keeps Heart Failure at Bay

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
New Injectable Gel Keeps Heart Failure at Bay | The Weather Channel

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.medgadget.com/2019/09/injectable-hydrogel-for-transcatheter-intravascular-embolization-interview-with-dr-rahmi-oklu-founder-of-obsidio.html

# data[].attributes.body
My top five strengths are restorative, responsibility, focus, harmony, and discipline.

Based on the above strengths, I believe the five individuals that would best fit me in creating a successful team to work towards this innovation would be Alice, Carter, Carlee, Daniel, and Fernando. I will now discuss the reason I believe these individuals would be best at making a great team based on their highest strength.

Alice "Achiever" - Being an achiever means Alice is willing to work hard to be successful. She will remain busy and productive, lead by example, and she is a go-getter.

Carter "Communication" - As a communicator, Carter finds it easy to put his thoughts into words. He is a good presenter and storyteller, easy to talk to, and entertaining. He is just what we need in order to promote GEM.

Carlee "Consistency" - By scoring high on consistency, Carlee is aware that people need to be treated equally and remain consistent in their work ethic. She sets clear rules and adheres to them, she is a problem-solver and a policy-maker.

Daniel "Discipline" - Being disciplined, Daniel enjoys routine and structure (just as I do). He portrays himself as being very productive and accurate, he is a great planner, and he promotes efficiency.

Fernando "Focus" - Fernando takes direction, follows through with it, and makes the corrections necessary to stay on track and focused. He can prioritize events in order of importance, and he is disciplined and purposeful.

Given these five individuals and the strengths and skills they present with, compared to my top five strengths, I believe they will be a great asset in developing a successful team. Our team will work hard together to present this current innovation project.

# data[].attributes.body
Obsidio Inc., a medical device company based out of Columbia, South Carolina.

Researcher:
Dr. Rahmi Oklu - Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Obsidio

# data[].attributes.body
Hastings, C. (2019, September 6). Injectable hydrogel for transcatheter intravascular embolization: Interview with Dr. Rahmi Oklu, founder of Obsidio. Medgadget. Retrieved from https://www.medgadget.com/2019/09/injectable-hydrogel-for-transcatheter-intravascular-embolization-interview-with-dr-rahmi-oklu-founder-of-obsidio.html

# data[].attributes.body
Regarding GEM, I believe that based on the facts and statistics provided that this embolic hydrogel is indeed a brilliant finding to treat those patients in need. The reason I believe this is due to a variety of reasons, one being how this product is delivered to patients and how minimally invasive it is. This product does not rely on the patient’s own coagulation abilities but has a way to coagulate on its own. This can be very beneficial for patients, especially those with coagulation issues or other clotting factor deficiencies. The GEM material does not easily get dislodged and it does not break up in the targeted vessel, which is another benefit for patients in that it decreases the chances of stroke and/or death. The hydrogel is very easy to make and use, and it works immediately to stop blood flow once applied. Another huge reason as to why I am an advocate for this product is because it replaces the huge amount of coil/catheter inventory within the hospital system and helps to save on costs and cut back on the abundance of coil/catheter overflow. Lastly, GEM cuts back on procedure and operation time for patients, which is another means to cut back on hospital costs and it reduces the amount of radiation exposure patients and hospital personal receive.

# data[].attributes.body
A potential limitation to the use of GEM is that it blocks the targeted vessel permanently. Due to GEM being biocompatible, it elicits an immune response to the biomaterial and immune cells and is replaced with fibrotic tissue. This approach is not always suitable for patients with impaired coagulation and it can sometimes fail, resulting in re-bleeding (Hastings, 2019).

# data[].attributes.body
September 6, 2019

# data[].attributes.body
Through the cohesive properties of GEM material, it is not easily dislodged and it does not break up in the targeted vessel. The hydrogel is easy to make and able to fill the vessel and form a cast of the vessel in order to immediately stop blood flow. GEM can be used for vascular malformations, tumor embolization, prostate artery embolization for benign prostate hyperplasis (BPH), and varicose vein embolization. GEM is easily assembled and used. It only takes minutes to inject GEM under ultrasound guidance to the saphenous vein for treatment of varicose veins. The use of GEM replaces the massive coil/catheter inventory within hospitals which helps to reduce the overall cost for the hospital. GEM would also reduce procedure/operation time for patients as well as, reducing radiation exposure to both patients and hospital personal. GEM does not produce artifact, meaning that the patient who received GEM is able to get a CT scan or MRI done to see whether the embolization worked to deliver the hydrogel under ultrasound guidance (Hastings, 2019).

# data[].attributes.body
Gel Embolic Material (GEM) is an embolic hydrogel that consists of gelatin and nanosilicates that is designed to be delivered minimally invasively through a clinical catheter for blood vessel occlusion. Reasons for applications include controlling blood flow in vascular injuries and aneurysms, reducing tumor blood supply, and preventing abnormal blood flow between arteries and veins. Currently, the gold standard treatment for transcatheter embolization involves delivering multiple metal coils into a blood vessel, which works by promoting coagulation so that the clot around the coil stops the flow of blood. This hydrogel material occludes a target vessel without relying on the patient’s own coagulation ability. The use of this hydrogel results in shear thinning properties as it acts as a semisolid when exposed to shear stress. This product flows through a catheter during delivery, but forms as a soft solid once in the targeted blood vessel allowing for a minimally invasive embolization. The overall goal of GEM is to disrupt the coil embolization industry (Hastings, 2019).