Expandable Barrier Device for Cavity Isolation and UV Curing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for treating cavities in the human body, such as defects in cartilaginous or bone tissue, face challenges in effectively isolating the treatment area and delivering therapeutic agents in a minimally invasive manner, while also allowing for visualization and UV light application.
Innovation Solution
A barrier device with a collapsible and expandable configuration, deployable via a delivery tube, that conforms to surrounding tissue using hinged legs or spring elements, and includes features for UV light transmission and therapeutic agent delivery, along with a suction mechanism and temperature regulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a barrier device is deployed to isolate the cavity for therapeutic agent application, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but the invasiveness of the procedure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier device is nested within the delivery tube in a collapsed configuration during minimally invasive insertion through the skin and tissue. Once positioned at the cavity site, the barrier device is deployed from the delivery tube to expand and conform to the cavity, providing effective isolation for therapeutic agent application. This nesting approach enables the transition from minimal invasiveness during insertion to effective cavity isolation during treatment.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the barrier device is made rigid to maintain cavity isolation, then isolation stability is improved, but the ability to conform to surrounding tissue decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier device transitions from a flexible, conformable state during deployment to a stabilized isolation state during treatment. The device is designed to adapt to the cavity geometry when first deployed, then maintain stable isolation of the therapeutic agent. This dynamic behavior allows the barrier to both conform to surrounding tissue and maintain isolation stability throughout the treatment procedure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the barrier device is made transparent to UV light and visible light, then UV curing and visualization are enabled, but the material selection and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier device is constructed from materials with specific optical properties that allow transmission of UV light (for curing therapeutic agents) and visible light (for cavity visualization). By selecting materials with appropriate transparency parameters, the device enables both UV curing and real-time visualization during the procedure. This material parameter selection, while requiring careful specification, allows the use of established manufacturing techniques for creating transparent or translucent medical devices.
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 effective isolation and treatment of cavities with minimal invasiveness, allowing for UV light curing of therapeutic agents and real-time visualization, while accommodating various tissue types and cavity locations.
Implementation Method 1
a barrier device that isolates the region which is to be treated
Implementation Method 2
a mechanism that applies ultraviolet (UV) light may be integrated with the device, allowing for curing of applied therapeutic agents
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and methods are described, including apparatus for treating a cavity in a human body, the apparatus including a delivery tube. A bather device has a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, the barrier device moving from the collapsed configuration to the expanded configuration upon being deployed from the delivery tube. A pushing element, slidably disposed within a lumen of the delivery tube, is configured to deploy the barrier device from the delivery tube by pushing the bather device. One or more bather-deployment elements are coupled to the barrier device and to the pushing element, the bather-deployment elements being configured to conformingly contact the barrier device with tissue surrounding the cavity. Other applications are also described.