Inflatable Bladder Implant Attenuating Pressure Spikes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical devices fail to effectively address sudden fluctuations in intravesical pressure, leading to urinary incontinence, urgency, and other urinary tract disorders due to reduced dynamic compliance of the bladder, which causes pressure spikes and discomfort.
Innovation Solution
The development of implantable devices, such as inflatable containers and attenuation devices, that can be placed within the bladder to attenuate transient pressure waves and maintain a given pressure or volume over time, using compressible gases like perfluorocarbons to act as a pressure attenuator and reduce the impact of pressure spikes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the bladder wall elasticity decreases, then the bladder becomes stiffer and less compliant, but this causes increased pressure propagation and magnitude from normal body movements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by placing an inflatable implant within the bladder that can be pre-inflated with compressible gas (perfluorocarbon) before pressure events occur. This pre-positioned cushion absorbs and attenuates pressure spikes from coughing, sneezing, or other body movements, protecting the bladder wall from harmful pressure propagation while maintaining structural support.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing a compressible gas (perfluorocarbon) as a mediator between the bladder wall and external pressure events. This gas-filled implant acts as an intermediate layer that absorbs pressure energy through compression, reducing the transmission of pressure spikes to the bladder wall and surrounding tissues.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If an inflatable implant is used to attenuate pressure spikes, then pressure attenuation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by placing the deflated implant within a delivery catheter, which is then inserted through the urethra into the bladder. The implant is nested inside the delivery system, allowing for minimally invasive insertion without requiring separate surgical procedures. After positioning, the implant is inflated within the bladder and the delivery catheter is removed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses extraction by removing the delivery catheter after the implant has been inflated and positioned within the bladder. This separates the delivery function from the therapeutic function, allowing the complex delivery system to be temporarily used and then discarded, while the simple inflatable implant remains for long-term pressure attenuation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If perfluorocarbon gas is used as a pressure attenuator, then pressure attenuation effectiveness is improved, but the loss of substance occurs over time due to diffusion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by selecting perfluorocarbon gas with specific physical properties (low solubility in water, high compressibility) that optimize its pressure attenuation performance. The gas parameters are carefully chosen to maximize cushioning effectiveness while minimizing diffusion loss through the implant membrane and into the surrounding bladder environment.
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
These devices effectively reduce intravesical pressure spikes, minimizing urine leakage and discomfort, and can be designed to remain in the bladder for extended periods, providing a solution for conditions like urinary incontinence and interstitial cystitis by maintaining bladder compliance.
Implementation Method 1
causing or allowing an implant to expand out of a lateral aspect of said delivery device wherein said expansion occurs in a direction substantially opposite to that of a trigone region of the bladder
Implementation Method 2
these devices effectively reduce intravesical pressure spikes, minimizing urine leakage and discomfort
Data Source
AI summary
An implant delivery system can be configured to deliver an inflatable implant into a bladder via a urethra. The delivery system can comprise an elongate tubular body, an inflation tube and an implant decoupler. The tubular body can comprise a central lumen configured to hold an inflatable implant in an initial un-inflated state for delivery of the implant into the bladder. A method of use can include passing a distal tip of the elongate tubular body into the bladder. The implant can be inflated and released into the bladder.