Biodegradable Filter Device for Biliary and Renal Stone Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for gallstones and renal calculi, such as gallstone dissolution and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, are not cost-effective and have high failure and recurrence rates, and existing stents do not prevent occlusion in ducts and lumens effectively.
Innovation Solution
Development of filter devices with a blocking section to prevent gallstones and renal calculi from passing through while allowing bodily fluids to pass, featuring a biodegradable or bioabsorbable design with anchoring sections to maintain position without radial force, and optional pharmaceutical elution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If conventional stents are used to widen the passageway, then the duct lumen is enlarged, but larger structures are allowed through which are likely to clog non-stented portions of the lumen
Solution Approach 1:
The filter device applies local quality by creating a localized filtering structure within the duct lumen. The filter mesh provides a specific local property (filtration) at the implantation site, allowing the duct to maintain its natural geometry elsewhere while preventing stone passage through the filtered region.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter device utilizes porous materials in the form of a mesh structure with specific pore sizes. This porous configuration allows bodily fluids to pass through while mechanically blocking gallstones and renal calculi based on their size, resolving the contradiction between maintaining flow and preventing clogs.
2Reliability
If filter devices are designed to block gallstones and renal calculi, then stone passage is prevented, but the device structure becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The filter device is segmented into distinct functional sections: a filter mesh portion for stone blocking and anchoring portions for securing the device. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall device simplicity and manufacturability.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter device incorporates multi-functionality by integrating both filtration and anchoring functions into a single device structure. The filter mesh serves dual purposes of blocking stones and providing a framework for anchoring elements, reducing the need for separate components and simplifying the overall device design.
3Reliability
If existing treatments like gallstone dissolution and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy are used, then stone breakdown is attempted, but cost-effectiveness is poor with high failure and recurrence rates
Solution Approach 1:
The filter device performs preliminary action by preventing stone passage before complications can occur. By blocking stones at the filter site, the device prevents downstream obstructions and complications, eliminating the need for subsequent expensive and often unsuccessful treatment procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter device represents a cost-effective, one-time intervention compared to repeated expensive treatment sessions. The device can be removed after serving its purpose, providing a economical solution with high reliability for preventing stone-related complications.
Data Source
AI summary
A filter device for implantation in a body lumen, comprising: a blocking section for filtering structures greater than a specified minimum size; and, an anchoring section for preventing unwanted movement of the filter device, wherein the filter device does not apply expansive radial force on a wall of the body lumen.