Bioabsorbable Implant for Radiation Targeting Precision

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) techniques face challenges in accurately targeting tumors without causing harm to surrounding tissues, as they often rely on foreign bodies that require surgical removal and can lead to cosmetic defects and inadequate targeting due to the lack of suitable visual markers for precise beam alignment.

Innovation Solution

A bioabsorbable implant with a predetermined shape and lower density than soft tissue is used to create a reproducible 3D target within the tumor resection cavity, allowing for accurate visualization and radiation delivery, eliminating the need for foreign body removal and enhancing beam alignment precision.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If foreign bodies are used as visual markers for radiation targeting, then beam alignment precision is improved, but the need for second surgical procedure and cosmetic defects worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam alignment precisionVSAvoidcosmetic defects

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs biodegradable markers that are temporarily implanted for radiation therapy targeting and then naturally decompose and are absorbed by the body. These markers serve their purpose during treatment and then disappear without requiring removal surgery, eliminating cosmetic defects while maintaining measurement precision during the critical treatment period

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the markers by using biodegradable materials with specific degradation rates. The markers are designed to maintain structural integrity and visibility during the treatment period, then gradually decompose into harmless byproducts that are absorbed by surrounding tissue, transforming from a permanent foreign body into a temporary targeting aid

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If foreign bodies are used as visual markers for radiation targeting, then beam alignment precision is improved, but device complexity worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam alignment precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential function of foreign body markers (providing visual targeting) and implements it through biodegradable materials that are naturally absorbed by the body. This eliminates the need for complex removal mechanisms and reduces overall device complexity while maintaining the critical beam alignment function during treatment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If large margins are added to target volume, then reliability of treatment is improved, but loss of healthy tissue worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment reliabilityVSAvoidloss of healthy tissue

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical approach of adding large safety margins with a precision-based approach using biodegradable visual markers. The markers provide continuous visual reference for beam alignment across multiple treatment sessions, enabling accurate targeting without requiring excessive margins, thus protecting healthy tissue while maintaining treatment reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

This solution enables more precise and accurate radiation targeting, reducing the risk of missing the tumor and damaging healthy tissue, while avoiding the need for a second surgical procedure and minimizing cosmetic defects by using a device that is absorbable and provides consistent imaging for each fraction of treatment.

Implementation Method 1

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDensity contrast imaging:

Data Source

PatentUS11337772B2Implant for targeting therapeutic procedure

Publication Date: 2022.05.24 HOLOGIC INC

AI summary

An implantable device has a body that is substantially rigid and has a predetermined shape. The body is further bioabsorbable and has a density less than or equal to about 1.03 g/cc. When the device is implanted in a resected cavity in soft tissue, it causes the cavity to conform to the predetermined shape. The implantable device is further imageable due to its density being less than that of soft tissue such that the boundaries of the tissue corresponding to the predetermined shape can be determined.