Implantable Device Selective Degradation via Electrolytic Cell
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing implantable medical devices face challenges in remaining fixed within the body during treatment and being easily removable without causing trauma or requiring invasive procedures, due to tissue growth and anchoring issues.
Innovation Solution
The development of implantable devices with a cathode region, a sacrificial anode region, and an antenna region that undergo electrolytic degradation, allowing for remote reconfiguration from an anchored to a non-anchored state through the formation of an electrolytic cell, enabling non-invasive removal by selectively degrading specific regions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the medical device is anchored to remain fixed in position during therapy, then the device stability and treatment efficacy are improved, but the device cannot be removed without invasive procedures or causing tissue trauma
Solution Approach 1:
The device transitions from a static anchored state to a dynamic removable state through electrolytic degradation. The sacrificial anode region is selectively degraded using electrolysis to transform the device from a fixed configuration during therapy to a removable configuration afterward, allowing non-invasive extraction without tissue trauma
Solution Approach 2:
The physical and chemical parameters of the sacrificial anode region are changed through controlled electrolytic degradation. By applying electrical current, the material properties of the anode region change, causing it to degrade and release from tissue anchoring, enabling device removal while maintaining stability during the therapy period
2Ease of operation
If the device is designed to be removed without invasive procedures, then the patient trauma is reduced, but the device cannot maintain fixed position during therapy
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into functional regions with different properties: a stable cathode region that maintains structural integrity and anchoring during therapy, and a sacrificial anode region that is selectively degraded for device removal. This segmentation allows the device to be stable during use yet easily removable afterward without invasive procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The sacrificial anode region is extracted or removed through controlled electrolytic degradation. This extraction allows the device to be detached from tissue anchoring and removed non-invasively after therapy, while the remaining cathode region maintains its structural integrity and stability during the therapy period
3Adaptability or versatility
If selective degradation is used to adjust device configuration, then the device adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses its own structural components (sacrificial anode region and cathode region) to enable selective degradation. The electrolytic cell is formed using the device's own materials, and the degradation process is self-driven through electrochemical reactions, eliminating the need for external complex degradation mechanisms while maintaining adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical system for device adjustment and removal is replaced with an electrochemical system. Instead of mechanical tools or invasive procedures, electrolytic degradation is used to transform device configuration and enable removal, simplifying the overall system while improving adaptability
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 solution allows for the adjustment of device configurations, such as stent diameter, and facilitates easy removal of medical devices from the body by transforming them from anchored to non-anchored configurations, minimizing tissue trauma and avoiding invasive procedures.
Implementation Method 1
an antenna region that remotely receives energy from an external transmitter device
Implementation Method 2
electrolytic degradation of the anode region and/or the predetermined failure region transforms the implantable device from a first configuration to a second configuration
Implementation Method 3
a piezoelectric receiver region. A bridge rectifier may be used to increase power transfer efficiency. Electrolytic degradation is initiated upon the formation of an electrolytic cell, which is formed when the piezoelectric receiver region receives acoustic energy from an external transmitter device and converts the acoustic energy to electrical energy
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 2A
AI summary
Implantable medical devices that contain at least one region that is selectively degradable by electrolytic corrosion are provided. The electrolytic corrosion of the medical device is initiated by the formation of an electrolytic cell that can be activated wirelessly at a designated point in time. The medical device incorporates at least one section or region that is designed to be predisposed to structural failure. The medical device contains a cathode region, a sacrificial anode region, which will undergo degradation, and an antenna region. Electrolytic degradation of a sacrificial anode region may cause a de-anchoring of the medical device or a reconfiguration of the medical device from a first configuration to a second configuration. Alternatively, electrolytic degradation may precipitate the absorption of the medical device. In another embodiment, electrolytic protection may be employed to preserve an implanted device until such a time that its corrosion and subsequent absorption is desired.