Drug-Loaded Degradable Stent Groove Geometry for Uniform Release

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Solution Overview

Problem

Degradable stents face issues with uneven drug distribution and adhesion, leading to potential thrombosis and reduced mechanical strength due to fragile materials.

Innovation Solution

A degradable drug-loading stent with a biodegradable polymer body featuring a mesh columnar structure and drug-loading grooves on its surface, with controlled depth and width, enhances drug adhesion and mechanical support.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of stationary object

If degradable materials are used in stents, then degradability and absorption are improved, but mechanical strength and structural stability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedegradabilityVSAvoidmechanical strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The stent employs a composite structure combining a metal base layer providing mechanical strength with a degradable polymer coating layer providing degradability. This composite approach allows the stent to maintain structural integrity during the degradation process, resolving the contradiction between degradability and mechanical strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the stent have different properties: the metal framework provides localized mechanical support where needed, while the polymer coating provides localized degradability and drug delivery functionality. This spatial differentiation of material properties allows simultaneous achievement of strength and degradability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If drug coating is applied on stent surface, then therapeutic effect is improved, but uniformity and adhesion of drug distribution deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetherapeutic effectVSAvoiduniformity of drug distribution

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The stent incorporates a porous or grooved surface structure that enhances drug loading capacity and promotes uniform drug distribution. The increased surface area and porous architecture allow for more consistent drug adhesion and release, improving both therapeutic effect and manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

A polymer coating layer serves as an intermediary between the metal stent and the drug, providing a suitable surface for uniform drug adhesion and controlled release. This intermediate layer facilitates homogeneous drug distribution while maintaining strong adhesion to the stent structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3967279B1Degradable drug-loaded stent and manufacturing method therefor

Publication Date: 2025.08.13 SHANGHAI MICROPORT MEDICAL (GROUP) CO LTD

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AI summary

A degradable drug-loaded stent and a manufacturing method therefor. The degradable drug-loaded stent comprises a stent body (10), an outer surface of the stent body being provided with a drug-loaded groove (13), the stent body having a contracted state and an expanded state, the stent body being capable of switching from the contracted state to the expanded state via radial expansion, the stent body being a mesh columnar structure when in the expanded state, the depth of the drug-loaded groove (13) being 10%-60% of the wall thickness of the mesh columnar structure.