Heparin-Benzalkonium Coating for Intravascular Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Intravascular glucose sensors face challenges with thrombus formation due to their presence in the vascular system, leading to restricted blood flow and potential severe health issues, and existing thromboresistant coatings like heparin derivatives are not effective for devices requiring analyte passage through the coating.
Innovation Solution
A coating comprising heparin and benzalkonium stably associated with a porous membrane on an intravascular analyte sensor, where the heparin is covalently cross-linked to the surface and the sensor includes a fluorophore and analyte binding moiety within a water-insoluble organic polymer, allowing for stable and continuous analyte monitoring while reducing thrombogenicity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If heparin coating is applied to intravascular glucose sensor, then thrombus formation is reduced, but the coating integrity and longevity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a composite coating system consisting of multiple layers: a base polymeric coating layer and a heparin-containing outer layer. This composite structure combines the adhesive properties of the base polymer with the thromboresistant properties of heparin, achieving both durable attachment and effective thrombus prevention. The layered composite allows each material to perform its optimal function while compensating for individual limitations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a base polymeric coating as an intermediary layer between the sensor substrate and the heparin coating. This intermediate layer serves as an adhesive foundation that enhances heparin attachment to the sensor surface, preventing heparin degradation and ensuring long-term coating stability while maintaining the thromboresistant properties of heparin.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If heparin coating is applied to polymeric surfaces, then thrombus formation is reduced, but coating adhesion and stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite coating system where a base polymeric layer is combined with a heparin-containing outer layer. The base polymer provides strong adhesion to the sensor substrate while the heparin layer provides thromboresistance. This composite structure resolves the adhesion problem by ensuring heparin is not applied directly to the polymeric surface but rather on top of a dedicated adhesive layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The base polymeric coating acts as an intermediary layer that mediates between the sensor substrate and the heparin coating. This intermediate layer enhances the adhesion of heparin to the sensor surface, preventing heparin detachment and ensuring long-term stability while maintaining the thromboresistant properties of heparin.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If existing thromboresistant coatings are used, then thrombus formation is reduced, but device functionality and analyte monitoring accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a porous outer layer in the heparin-containing coating that specifically allows glucose molecules to penetrate through while maintaining the thromboresistant properties of the coating. This localized structural modification ensures that the coating does not interfere with glucose sensing functionality while still providing effective thrombus prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates a porous outer layer into the coating structure, allowing glucose analyte to diffuse through the coating to reach the sensing element. The porous structure maintains sufficient porosity for analyte penetration while the heparin content provides thromboresistance, thus preserving both measurement accuracy and thrombus prevention capabilities.
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 heparin-benzalkonium coating effectively reduces thrombus formation on the sensor, maintaining its functionality and stability, even on polymeric surfaces like polyolefins and fluoropolymers, ensuring continuous and accurate glucose monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
inhibiting enzymes critical to the formation of fibrin (which holds thrombi together)
Implementation Method 2
reducing the adsorption of blood proteins, which may lead to undesirable reactions on the device surface
Implementation Method 3
the heparin is covalently cross-linked to the surface
Implementation Method 4
allowing for stable and continuous analyte monitoring
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention relate to analyte sensors comprising a heparin coating, and methods of coating analyte sensors. The heparin can be stably associated with at least a portion of a porous membrane that covers a portion of the analyte sensors. The heparin can be photochemically linked to the coating through the formation of covalent bonds.