Balloon Anchor Device for Vessel Wall Permeability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for coronary artery diseases, such as CABG and drug-eluting stents, are invasive and face challenges with restenosis and damage to the myocardium during acute myocardial infarction, leading to decreased cardiac function and heart failure.
Innovation Solution
A treatment device with a balloon and anchor members that inflate to maintain the balloon away from the blood vessel wall, allowing physiologically active substances to be effectively guided to the blood vessel wall while maintaining blood flow, using a balloon with an outer diameter less than 4 mm and anchor members that radially expand to prevent contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a balloon is used to deliver physiologically active substances to the blood vessel wall, then substance delivery effectiveness is improved, but the balloon may contact the blood vessel wall causing blockage of blood flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary structure (the support wire with radial support portion) that mediates between the balloon and the blood vessel wall. The radial support portion protruding from the balloon's radial outer surface prevents the balloon from directly contacting the blood vessel wall, thereby maintaining blood flow while still allowing the balloon to deliver physiologically active substances effectively.
2Quantity of substance
If the balloon outer diameter is increased to improve substance delivery, then contact with blood vessel wall increases, but blood flow blockage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent solves the dimensional conflict by adding a radial dimension element (the radial support portion protruding outward from the balloon surface). This radial protrusion creates a spatial buffer zone that prevents the balloon's main body from contacting the vessel wall, thus maintaining blood flow velocity while preserving the balloon's substance delivery capability through its surface.
3Speed
If anchor members radially expand to hold the balloon away from the wall, then blood flow maintenance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the anchor member functionality with the balloon structure itself. The radial support portion is integrated into the balloon's radial outer surface, combining the balloon's substance delivery function with the anchoring function in a single integrated component, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining blood flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The radial support portion serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both a structural support element to prevent wall contact and maintain blood flow, and as part of the balloon's surface for delivering physiologically active substances. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, simplifying the overall device structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution improves the permeability of physiologically active substances into the blood vessel wall, promoting repair and regeneration of damaged myocardium without blocking blood flow, thus enhancing cardiac function and reducing the risk of ischemia.
Implementation Method 1
at least one anchor member configured to be inserted into the lumen and to radially expand at a state in which a distal portion protrudes from the lumen
Implementation Method 2
the balloon is held away from the blood vessel wall... guiding the physiologically active substance toward the blood vessel wall by the inflation body
Data Source
AI summary
A treatment device and a treatment method are capable of improving permeability of a physiologically active substance into a blood vessel wall while maintaining a blood flow. A treatment device for treating a lesion in a blood vessel includes: a shaft portion including at least one lumen; a balloon disposed at a distal side of the shaft portion and configured to inflate; and at least one anchor member that can be inserted into the lumen and to radially expand at a state in which a distal portion protrudes from the lumen. The balloon has an outer diameter when inflated that is smaller than an outer diameter of the anchor member when radially expanded. When the anchor member radially expands in a blood vessel to come into contact with a blood vessel wall, the balloon is held away from the blood vessel wall.