Biodegradable Sphincter Scaffolds for GERD Tissue Reinforcement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing treatments for sphincter disorders, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), often involve permanent devices that can cause adverse side effects like infection, migration, dysphagia, and gas-bloat syndrome, and do not effectively address the underlying pathophysiology of sphincter dysfunction.
Innovation Solution
The use of biodegradable implantable devices that induce an inflammatory response and tissue growth to reinforce sphincters, such as the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), by introducing bioabsorbable materials that stimulate the formation of a tissue collar, including fibrosis and scar tissue, to enhance sphincter functionality without the long-term complications of permanent implants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If permanent devices are used to treat sphincter disorders, then sphincter reinforcement is achieved, but adverse side effects such as infection, migration, dysphagia, and gas-bloat syndrome occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs biodegradable implants that temporarily reinforce the sphincter and then naturally degrade and absorb. This eliminates the need for permanent devices, thereby removing the risks associated with long-term foreign body presence such as infection, migration, and chronic inflammation. The implant serves its purpose during the critical healing phase and then disappears, allowing tissue to remodel without permanent foreign material.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes materials with controlled biodegradation parameters that allow the implant to maintain mechanical strength during the acute phase and then gradually lose strength as it degrades. This parameter change over time enables the implant to provide temporary reinforcement during healing while eliminating long-term complications associated with permanent implants.
2Reliability
If permanent devices are implanted to reinforce the sphincter, then sphincter dysfunction is addressed, but the underlying pathophysiology is not effectively treated
Solution Approach 1:
The biodegradable implant is designed to be present during the critical early healing phase, providing mechanical reinforcement while the tissue undergoes remodeling. As the implant degrades, it allows the body's natural healing processes to take over and address the underlying pathophysiology without the constraint of a permanent foreign device.
Solution Approach 2:
By using a temporary implant that disappears after serving its initial reinforcement purpose, the patent allows the body's natural regenerative processes to address the underlying cause of sphincter dysfunction, rather than being constrained by a permanent device that may mask the true pathology.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If biodegradable materials are used to induce tissue growth, then adverse side effects are minimized, but the device must be designed to completely degrade and absorb
Solution Approach 1:
The patent selects and designs materials with specific biodegradation parameters including controlled degradation rate, molecular weight, and crystallinity. These parameters are optimized to ensure the material degrades at an appropriate rate during the healing process while maintaining structural integrity when needed. The complete biodegradation and absorption characteristics are built into the material selection and design phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent may employ composite material structures combining biodegradable polymers with reinforcing agents or surface modifications that enhance tissue integration. These composite designs allow control over degradation characteristics while maintaining the necessary mechanical properties during the critical healing period, and ensuring complete biodegradation without leaving harmful residues.
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 biodegradable devices effectively augment sphincter performance by increasing functional sphincter length and reducing compliance, thereby reducing reflux and associated symptoms, while minimizing adverse side effects typically associated with permanent implants.
Implementation Method 1
induce an inflammatory response and tissue growth to reinforce sphincters
Implementation Method 2
stimulate the formation of a tissue collar, including fibrosis and scar tissue
Implementation Method 3
biodegradable implantable devices that induce an inflammatory response and tissue growth to reinforce sphincters
Data Source
AI summary
Devices and methods for treatment of bodily lumens and sphincters are disclosed. Some embodiments include methods and devices for inducing an inflammatory response and development of fibrosis, collagen, and/or scar tissue. In some embodiments, scaffolds may be composed of a matrix of filaments. Application of the methods and devices disclosed herein to treat Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) and other sphincter disorders are discussed. Biodegradable scaffolds configured to induce an inflammatory response are also disclosed.