Fluorocarbon Block Copolymer Coatings for Medical Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current polymeric coatings for medical devices, such as stents, face challenges in manufacturing flexibility and biocompatibility due to the limitations of living cationic polymerization processes, which restrict the variety of monomers that can be used and require stringent conditions, limiting the optimization of drug release profiles and surface properties.

Innovation Solution

The development of implantable medical devices featuring fluorocarbon-containing block copolymers with low and high glass transition temperature chains, formed using free radical polymerization techniques, allowing for greater flexibility in monomer selection and polymer properties, including reduced surface energy and improved biocompatibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If living cationic polymerization is used to manufacture polymeric coatings, then the polymeric coating has good integrity and biocompatibility, but the number of monomers that can be used is limited and the manufacturing process requires stringent conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepolymeric coating integrity and biocompatibilityVSAvoidmonomer selection flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the polymerization method from living cationic polymerization to free radical polymerization, fundamentally altering the process parameters. This enables the use of a broader range of monomers including fluorocarbon-containing monomers while maintaining coating integrity and biocompatibility, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs block copolymers comprising multiple polymer chains with different glass transition temperatures (low Tg and high Tg chains) in a single polymeric coating system. This composite approach allows optimization of both coating integrity and biocompatibility while enabling greater monomer selection flexibility through free radical polymerization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If living cationic polymerization is used to manufacture polymeric coatings, then the polymeric coating has good integrity, but the manufacturing process requires stringent conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepolymeric coating integrityVSAvoidmanufacturing process stringency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from living cationic polymerization to free radical polymerization, changing the process conditions from stringent (low temperature, controlled atmosphere) to more conventional and easier-to-implement conditions. This maintains coating integrity while significantly improving ease of manufacture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Duration of action of moving object

If the polymeric coating is designed to release therapeutic agents effectively, then the drug release profile is optimized, but the surface energy and surface tack are affected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetherapeutic agent release durationVSAvoidsurface tack

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses block copolymers with distinct low Tg and high Tg chains that create different functional zones within the polymeric coating. The low Tg chains provide elastomeric properties and drug release, while the high Tg chains provide structural integrity and controlled surface properties, thus achieving localized optimization of different functions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

By incorporating fluorocarbon-containing monomers and controlling the glass transition temperatures of different polymer chains, the patent modifies the surface energy and tack characteristics of the coating while maintaining effective therapeutic agent release profiles

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This approach enables the creation of polymeric regions with controlled therapeutic agent release profiles and enhanced biocompatibility, improving the performance of medical devices by allowing for a wider range of chemical and physical properties, such as reduced surface tack and tailored drug release.

Implementation Method 1

at least one fluorocarbon-containing, low glass transition temperature (low Tg) copolymer chain and at least one high glass transition temperature (high Tg) polymer chain

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGlass transition:

Data Source

PatentUS8034874B2Medical devices having polymeric regions that contain fluorocarbon-containing block copolymers

Publication Date: 2011.10.11 BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED INC

AI summary

In one aspect, the present invention provides implantable or insertable medical devices, which contain at least one polymeric region. The polymeric region contains at least one fluorocarbon-containing block copolymer, which, in turn, contains (a) at least one fluorocarbon-containing, low glass transition temperature (low Tg) copolymer chain and (b) at least one glass transition temperature (high Tg) polymer chain.