Cellulose Fiber Expansion Agent for Thin-Needle Mucosal Elevation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing subcutaneous and submucosal expansion agents, such as those containing hyaluronic acid, lack sufficient expansion properties, duration of the expanded state, and administration ease, particularly when injected through thin needles.
Innovation Solution
A subcutaneous or submucosal expansion agent comprising cellulose fibers anionically modified with a carboxyl group, oxidized using an N-oxyl compound and a cooxidant, dispersed in water, providing high viscosity and thixotropic properties for effective expansion and long-lasting mucosal elevation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the concentration of hyaluronic acid is reduced to lower the viscosity of the expansion agent, then the pressure during administration is reduced, but subcutaneous or submucosal expansion properties are reduced and the expanded state is not maintained for a sufficiently long period of time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite expansion agent containing both hyaluronic acid and cellulose fibers. The hyaluronic acid provides immediate expansion and transparency, while the cellulose fibers provide long-lasting structural support and maintain expansion duration. This composite approach allows the agent to achieve both easy administration (through hyaluronic acid's fluidity) and long duration (through cellulose fiber network) without compromising either property.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a hyaluronic acid-containing injection is injected through a thin injection needle, then the expansion agent can be delivered subcutaneously or submucosally, but high pressure is required which is not excellent in terms of administration properties
Solution Approach 1:
The composite formulation combines hyaluronic acid (providing fluidity and injectability) with cellulose fibers (providing structural integrity). This allows the expansion agent to flow through thin needles easily while maintaining sufficient viscosity for effective expansion, thus achieving both thin-needle compatibility and ease of administration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the rheological parameters of the expansion agent by incorporating cellulose fibers into the hyaluronic acid solution. This changes the viscosity profile to be shear-thinning, allowing the agent to flow easily through thin needles under injection pressure while maintaining higher viscosity in the target tissue to ensure proper expansion and long-lasting effects.
3Reliability
If the viscosity of the expansion agent is increased to improve expansion properties, then subcutaneous or submucosal expansion is enhanced, but administration pressure increases making it difficult to inject through thin needles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes shear-thinning rheology by combining hyaluronic acid with cellulose fibers. The expansion agent exhibits high viscosity at rest (providing reliable expansion properties) but reduces viscosity under shear stress during injection (reducing administration pressure). This parameter change allows the agent to maintain both good expansion reliability and ease of administration through thin needles.
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 expansion agent ensures superior expansion properties with long-lasting effects and ease of administration, suitable for cosmetic and surgical procedures, while maintaining transparency for clear visibility during endoscopic surgeries.
Implementation Method 1
The aqueous dispersion in which cellulose fibers (A) are dispersed in water (B) has a gel-like foam with a higher viscosity than that of an aqueous solution of hyaluronic acid when the shear force is small. However, when the shear force is large, the viscosity is reduced to the same level as that of the aqueous solution of hyaluronic acid, and the fluidity is increased.
Implementation Method 2
the cellulose may be oxidized in the presence of an N-oxyl compound using a cooxidant
Data Source
AI summary
An object is to provide a subcutaneous or submucosal expansion agent that not only has superior expansion properties to those of conventional agents, and maintains the expanded state for a relatively long period of time, but also ensures sufficient administration properties. The subcutaneous or submucosal expansion agent is injected into a subcutaneous or submucosal space to expand the subcutaneous or submucosal space, and comprises cellulose fibers (A) containing anionically modified cellulose, and water (B).