Crosslinkable Embolic Composition for Catheter-Delivered Vessel Occlusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing biomedical technologies face challenges in delivering and forming crosslinked compositions to closed cavities and difficult-to-access body sites, such as the vascular system, with limited ability to fill space and support surrounding tissues effectively.
Innovation Solution
The use of biocompatible crosslinkable compositions comprising polysiloxanes, silica fillers, hydride materials, and catalysts that react in situ to form crosslinked structures, which can be injected via catheters or needles and crosslink within the body, allowing for precise delivery and occlusion of distal vessels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If crosslinked compositions are delivered to closed cavities and difficult-to-access body sites, then the ability to fill space and support surrounding tissues is improved, but the complexity of delivery and formation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The composition is divided into separate components (silane-modified polymer, crosslinking agent, catalyst) that are mixed in situ at the delivery site. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while simplifying the overall delivery system by avoiding the need to deliver pre-formed crosslinked structures to difficult-to-access sites.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymer is pre-modified with silane groups during manufacturing, preparing it for crosslinking without requiring complex in-situ modification equipment. This preliminary chemical preparation enables the crosslinking reaction to proceed efficiently once the components are mixed at the delivery site, reducing the complexity of the delivery system.
2Reliability
If in-situ crosslinking is performed to fill empty space and blood-filled cavities, then the effectiveness of occlusion and tissue support is improved, but the risk of unwanted reactions before delivery increases
Solution Approach 1:
A catalyst (such as a metal salt or organometallic compound) is introduced as an intermediary to control and accelerate the crosslinking reaction only under specific conditions (presence of moisture or heat in the body). This intermediary ensures the reaction remains dormant during storage and transport but activates reliably upon delivery, preventing unwanted premature reactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The crosslinking reaction is designed to be triggered by changes in environmental parameters such as temperature (body temperature) or moisture content (presence of water in tissues). These parameter changes occur naturally upon delivery to the body, ensuring the reaction activates only at the target site and not during storage or transport.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple components are mixed and delivered to achieve precise occlusion of distal vessels, then the precision of vessel occlusion is improved, but the complexity of mixing and delivery systems increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing step is extracted from the delivery device itself and performed externally or passively upon injection. The composition components are designed to mix automatically through diffusion or simple mechanical agitation in the delivery catheter, eliminating the need for complex active mixing mechanisms within the delivery device while maintaining precise occlusion capability.
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 crosslinkable compositions provide effective occlusion of vessels down to 100 microns, support surrounding tissues, and can be used for various medical procedures like vascular embolization, reducing blood loss and enhancing surgical outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
at least one of said first and second fluid compositions comprises a catalyst for catalyzing a reaction between the unsaturated groups and the hydride groups
Implementation Method 2
forming a crosslinkable composition that comprises a mixture of (i) a first fluid composition comprising a first polysiloxane having two or more unsaturated groups, (ii) a first dry composition comprising a mixture of a first silica filler and a first imaging agent or a first silica filler, (iii) a second fluid composition comprising a first hydride material having two or more hydride groups, wherein at least one of the first and second fluid compositions comprises a catalyst for catalyzing a reaction between the unsaturated groups and the hydride groups
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure pertains to crosslinkable compositions and systems as well as methods for forming crosslinked compositions in situ, including the use of the same for embolizing vasculature including the neurovasculature within a patient, among many other uses.