Expandable Intravascular Catheter for Local Plaque Drug Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intravascular catheter devices lack an effective drug delivery system to precisely administer therapeutic agents directly to atherosclerotic plaque sites, leading to inefficiencies and potential side effects from systemic drug administration.
Innovation Solution
An intravascular catheter with an expandable portion and drug delivery devices that can be controlled to open and extend, allowing precise delivery of drugs to specific sites within blood vessels, minimizing systemic exposure and side effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If drugs are administered systemically to treat atherosclerosis, then therapeutic effect is achieved, but side effects increase and dosage precision decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter device delivers drugs locally to the atherosclerotic plaque site through an expandable balloon or stent structure, concentrating the therapeutic agent at the target location while minimizing systemic distribution, thereby reducing side effects and improving dosage precision
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter acts as an intermediary delivery system, transporting drugs from the systemic circulation or external source directly to the plaque site, enabling controlled local administration without requiring full systemic distribution of the drug
2Reliability
If drugs are delivered systemically, then therapeutic coverage is achieved, but dosage control precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device concentrates drug delivery at the specific plaque location rather than distributing systemically, allowing precise control of the amount delivered to the target site while maintaining therapeutic coverage of the affected area
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter is positioned and the drug delivery system is prepared in advance before drug administration, allowing the physician to control the timing, location, and dosage of drug delivery with high precision
3Adaptability or versatility
If an expandable drug delivery system is added to the catheter, then localized drug delivery capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drug delivery system is nested within the catheter structure, with the expandable balloon or stent containing the drug reservoir and delivery mechanisms, allowing the complex functionality to be integrated within a relatively simple outer structure
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter includes an expandable portion that transitions from a compressed delivery configuration to an expanded treatment configuration, providing localized drug delivery capability only when needed at the target site, thereby reducing complexity during navigation while enabling advanced functionality during treatment
Data Source
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AI summary
An intravascular catheter is provided having an expandable portion (31 ) operable between a closed and an open position. The expandable portion (31 ) has a plurality of struts (32). The device has at least one drug delivery device (40) for delivering a therapeutic agent to tissue immediately surrounding the device. The drug delivery device (40), such as a needle, is operable between a retracted position and a delivery position. In the retracted position the drug delivery device (40) extends along a catheter tube (30). In the delivery position, the drug delivery device (40) additionally extends along and beyond the struts (32).