Bifunctional Hydrogel Optical Fiber for Brain Tissue Oxygen Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current oxygen sensors for brain tissue detection lack the ability to combine real-time oxygen content monitoring with continuous and controllable direct oxygen supply, particularly in regions with impaired cerebral blood supply, making it difficult to effectively treat brain tissue hypoxia.
Innovation Solution
A bifunctional and flexible hydrogel optical fiber with a three-layer coaxial structure, incorporating PEGDA, methacrylamide, Synechococcus cells, and sodium alginate, which enables both real-time oxygen detection and controlled oxygen release through photosynthetic oxygen production, reducing sensitivity to light sources and enhancing biocompatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If glass or plastic optical fiber is used, then optical transmission function is achieved, but biocompatibility deteriorates and mechanical flexibility is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses hydrogel as a composite material to replace traditional glass or plastic optical fiber materials. The hydrogel maintains optical transmission functionality while providing superior biocompatibility and mechanical flexibility suitable for brain tissue applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameters of the optical fiber from rigid glass/plastic to soft hydrogel, altering mechanical properties such as flexibility, elasticity, and biocompatibility while maintaining optical transmission capabilities through appropriate hydrogel composition and structure design.
2Quantity of substance
If oxygen inhalation or intravenous drip is used for oxygen supply, then oxygen delivery is achieved, but adaptability to patients with respiratory or cerebral blood supply impairment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the oxygen supply function from the bloodstream and respiratory system by directly delivering oxygen to the brain tissue through the optical fiber implant, bypassing the need for functional lungs or blood circulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary oxygen-carrying material within the hydrogel optical fiber that can transport and release oxygen directly at the target site, serving as a mediator between external oxygen sources and brain tissue.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If photosynthetic cells are implanted for oxygen supply, then continuous oxygen production is achieved, but device complexity increases due to light source requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the oxygen supply function with the optical fiber structure by incorporating photosynthetic cells directly into the hydrogel matrix of the optical fiber, combining detection and therapy functions in a single integrated device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the optical fiber multi-functional by enabling it to simultaneously perform optical transmission for detection and photosynthetic oxygen production for therapy, eliminating the need for separate light source implants and oxygen delivery systems.
4Measurement precision
If separate oxygen detection and supply systems are used, then detection precision is maintained, but system complexity and treatment timeliness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate oxygen detection and supply systems into a single integrated hydrogel optical fiber device, where the same structure performs both fluorescent oxygen sensing and photosynthetic oxygen production, reducing system complexity and enabling immediate response to detected hypoxia.
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 hydrogel optical fiber allows for continuous and controllable oxygen supply while maintaining accurate real-time detection of oxygen levels in brain tissue, addressing the limitations of existing sensors and improving treatment outcomes for brain tissue hypoxia.
Implementation Method 1
raw materials of the intermediate fiber layer include Synechococcus cells, PEGDA, gelatin methacrylate (GelMA), anhydrous strontium chloride and DMPA
Implementation Method 2
The oxygen content in brain tissue can be determined according to the change of fluorescence intensity or fluorescence lifetime by applying a fluorescence probe on one end of the optical fiber
Implementation Method 3
The commonly used optical fiber material is made of glass or plastic, which is easy to cause injury to brain tissue
Data Source
AI summary
This application relates to a bifunctional and flexible hydrogel optical fiber, a preparation method and an application thereof. Raw materials of a fiber core include polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA), methacrylamide, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and 2,2-diethoxy-phenylacetophenone (DMPA); raw materials of an intermediate fiber layer include Synechococcus cells, PEGDA, gelatin methacrylate (GelMA), anhydrous strontium chloride and DMPA; and raw materials of a cladding include PEGDA, methacrylamide, sodium alginate and DMPA. A continuous and controllable direct oxygen supply function is provided through an optical fiber structure.