Biodegradable Glaucoma Drainage Sheet With Gradient Scar Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional glaucoma drainage apparatuses face issues such as rapid aqueous humor drainage leading to complications, encapsulation by scar tissues causing IOP increase, and corneal endothelial cell loss due to foreign body stimulation, with current anti-scarring drugs having short-lived effects and toxicity concerns.

Innovation Solution

A biodegradable drainage sheet with a non-monotonic anti-scarring drug distribution in a surface coating, gradually releasing drugs to control scar formation and maintain effective drainage, using magnesium alloys for strength and biocompatibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional fixed-diameter drainage tube is used, then drainage function is provided, but rapid drainage causes shallow anterior chamber and corneal endothelial cell loss

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrainage functionVSAvoidshallow anterior chamber and corneal endothelial cell loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The drainage tube diameter dynamically changes over time through biodegradation. The tube starts with a larger diameter for effective drainage, then gradually reduces as the biodegradable material degrades, automatically adapting to the healing process and preventing complications from excessive drainage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The physical parameter of tube diameter changes over time through material degradation. The biodegradable polymer progressively breaks down, causing the tube diameter to decrease from an initial larger size to a smaller size, matching the physiological needs during different healing stages

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Duration of action of stationary object

If traditional drainage apparatus is used long-term, then drainage is maintained, but scar tissue encapsulation reduces drainage volume and increases IOP

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrainage maintenanceVSAvoiddrainage effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The drainage tube is designed as a temporary, short-term implant that performs its drainage function during the critical early healing period, then biodegrades and is naturally eliminated by the body. This temporary presence minimizes long-term foreign body reaction and scar encapsulation while providing necessary drainage support when most needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The biodegradable tube gradually breaks down and is discarded by the body's natural metabolic processes. As the tube degrades, it is recovered by cellular mechanisms that process the biodegradable polymer, eliminating the need for removal surgery and reducing chronic foreign body stimulation that causes scarring

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Object-affected harmful factors

If anti-scarring drugs are applied under conjunctiva, then scar formation is reduced temporarily, but drug effect is short-lived and requires high concentration with toxicity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescar formationVSAvoiddrug toxicity and irritation

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The anti-scarring drug is pre-loaded into the drainage tube structure during manufacturing. As the tube degrades over time, the drug is gradually released in a sustained manner, providing prolonged anti-scarring protection without requiring high initial concentrations or repeated applications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The biodegradable drainage tube acts as an intermediary carrier that delivers the anti-scarring drug to the target site. The tube's gradual degradation controls the drug release rate, providing sustained low-dose delivery that reduces toxicity while maintaining effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 apparatus ensures safe, unobstructed drainage, reduces IOP, minimizes corneal endothelial cell loss, and enhances surgical success by controlling scar formation and degradation, improving surgical efficiency and safety.

Implementation Method 1

The outer surface of the drainage sheet is coated with a biodegradable surface coating, and the surface coating carries an anti-scarring drug. The anti-scarring drug is configured to be gradually released as the surface coating degrades

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBiodegradation: Decomposition (biological)

Data Source

PatentUS12465520B2Apparatuses for drainage of degradable glaucoma capable of gradient control of scars and methods of making the same

Publication Date: 2025.11.11 CHONGQING MEIMOU MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY CO LTD

AI summary

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a drainage apparatuses with scar gradient control capabilities for degradable glaucoma and methods of making the same cross-reference to related applications, comprising a long-strip-shaped drainage sheet with a uniform overall cross-sectional size, wherein the drainage sheet is made of a biodegradable material, an outer surface of the drainage sheet is provided with a drainage gap that penetrates through opposite sides of the drainage sheet, an outer surface of the drainage sheet is coated with a biodegradable surface coating, and the surface coating carries an anti-scarring drug, wherein the anti-scarring drug is configured to be gradually released as the surface coating degrades, and a distribution concentration of the anti-scarring drug within the surface coating varies in a non-monotonic manner.