Catheter Light Irradiation Alignment Using Radiopaque Markers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light irradiation devices struggle to selectively target specific positions within the body's lumens, such as vascular, lymphatic, biliary, urinary, respiratory, digestive, and reproductive systems, leading to potential damage to non-cancerous cells and limited effectiveness of treatments like PDT and NIR-PIT.
Innovation Solution
A light irradiation system comprising a catheter with a light transmitting portion and a light irradiation device, both equipped with radiopaque marker portions, allowing precise alignment and positioning using X-ray imaging, and a through-hole for guide wire insertion, enabling selective light irradiation on targeted sites.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If light irradiation is performed from the body surface, then the treatment can be applied to accessible areas, but the light does not sufficiently penetrate to reach cancers deep inside the body
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by inserting the light irradiation device inside the body through a catheter rather than irradiating from the body surface. This allows light to reach deep-seated tumors that are inaccessible from external irradiation, solving the penetration depth problem while maintaining treatment effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter serves as an intermediary device that delivers the light irradiation device to the target site within blood vessels or body lumens. This mediator enables deep tissue access without requiring direct surgical exposure, combining the benefits of minimally invasive delivery with effective deep tissue irradiation.
2Measurement precision
If a light irradiation device is inserted into a blood vessel, then deep internal irradiation is possible, but it is difficult to position the light irradiation portion accurately in the blood vessel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs radiopaque marker portions that appear as distinct markers on X-ray images, enabling visual detection and precise positioning of the light irradiation device within the blood vessel. These markers act as visual indicators that change the transparency characteristics, allowing operators to accurately locate the device during fluoroscopic guidance without complex positioning mechanisms.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If light irradiation is performed without selective positioning, then the procedure is simpler, but normal cells adjacent to cancer cells are damaged along with cancer cells
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies light irradiation locally at the specific site where the catheter tip is positioned within the blood vessel, rather than irradiating a broad area. This localized approach ensures that only cancer cells at the targeted location receive the therapeutic light dose, while adjacent normal cells remain protected, thereby reducing collateral damage and improving therapeutic selectivity.
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
Enables accurate and selective light irradiation on specific body lumens, reducing collateral damage to non-targeted cells and enhancing treatment efficacy by improving device design flexibility and procedural range.
Implementation Method 1
a light transmitting portion (139) provided at least in a part of a side surface on a distal end side of the catheter (1) and transmitting light inside the tube to an outside
Implementation Method 2
both equipped with radiopaque marker portions, allowing precise alignment and positioning using X-ray imaging
Implementation Method 3
In PDT, a photosensitizer is administered intravenously and then irradiated with light, to generate reactive oxygen in cancer cells and kill the cancer cells
Data Source
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AI summary
A light irradiation system for medical use includes a catheter having an elongated tube shape and a light irradiation device having an elongated shape and being inserted into the catheter to be used. The catheter includes a light transmitting portion provided at least in a part of a side surface on a distal end side of the catheter and transmitting light inside the tube to the outside, and a first marker portion being radiopaque and being provided close to the light transmitting portion. The light irradiation device includes a light irradiation portion provided at least in a part of a side surface on a distal end side of the light irradiation device and outputting irradiation light to the outside, and a second marker portion being radiopaque and being provided close to the light irradiation portion.