Expandable Biocompatible Plug Anchoring in Vessel Occlusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vascular embolization methods are inefficient in rapidly occluding blood vessels and often leave foreign materials in the body, with issues of migration and retrievability, and require complex delivery systems.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a hollow needle to puncture a vessel wall, extend into the vessel lumen, and eject an expandable biocompatible plug material into the extravascular space, which expands to anchor itself to the vessel wall, blocking blood flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If embolization coils and spider devices are used to occlude vessels, then the vessel can be occluded, but the procedure takes time and leaves foreign stainless steel materials in the body
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a biodegradable plug made from absorbable polymers that temporarily occlude the vessel and then degrade over time, eliminating the need for permanent foreign materials while maintaining occlusion effectiveness during the critical healing period
Solution Approach 2:
The plug material undergoes parameter changes by transitioning from a compact deliverable state to an expanded occlusive state, and then gradually degrading over time, allowing the vessel to heal while maintaining temporary occlusion
2Reliability
If embolization coils with spider devices are used, then vessel occlusion is achieved, but the device complexity increases due to requiring two separate devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of the embolization coil and spider device into a single integrated biodegradable plug that can be delivered through one catheter, simplifying the delivery system while maintaining occlusion effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The single plug device performs multiple functions: it occludes the vessel, prevents coil migration (replacing the spider device function), and gradually degrades to allow vessel healing, eliminating the need for separate devices
3Ease of operation
If direct injection of liquid or foam occlusion agents is used, then the procedure is simpler, but the agents suffer from migration and difficult retrievability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible biodegradable plug that can be delivered through a catheter in a compact form and then expands to a larger occlusive configuration, providing both ease of delivery and stable positioning without migration
Solution Approach 2:
The plug material changes its physical parameters by expanding from a compressed deliverable state to an expanded occlusive state upon deployment, and then gradually degrading over time, providing both procedural simplicity and long-term stability
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 method effectively and permanently occludes blood vessels by anchoring the expandable plug material to the vessel wall, reducing blood flow and promoting cellular integration, offering a simpler and more effective alternative to existing embolization techniques.
Implementation Method 1
The expandable biocompatible plug material may be formed from expandable sponge-like materials, expandable foam materials, expandable extracellular matrix (ECM) materials, expandable polymeric materials, expandable hydrogel materials
Implementation Method 2
the plug material expands, anchoring the plug material to the vessel wall
Data Source
AI summary
A method for occluding a body vessel in a patient to block or reduce blood flow therethrough includes puncturing a blood vessel wall at a proximal vessel entry site with a hollow needle and extending the needle through the proximal entry site into the vessel lumen. The needle is extended through the vessel lumen and extended through the vessel wall at a distal vessel exit site into the extravascular space surrounding the distal vessel exit site. An expandable biocompatible material, such as expandable extracellular matrix (ECM) material, is then ejected though the distal end of the needle into the extravascular space. Then, while continuing to eject the expandable biocompatible plug material, the distal end of the needle is retracted back through the distal vessel exit site into the vessel lumen, such that the plug material continuously extends between the extravascular space surrounding the distal vessel exit site into the vessel lumen. When the plug material is delivered into the lumen of the vessel, the plug material expands, anchoring the plug material to the vessel wall, whereby the plug material forms an occluding plug in the vessel lumen blocking or reducing blood flow therethrough.