Implantable Graft Negative Charge Thrombosis Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Implanted medical devices often face issues with infection, thrombosis, and undesired tissue growth due to microbial adherence and blood clotting, with existing solutions being either ineffective or risky, particularly for vascular grafts and catheters.
Innovation Solution
Applying a slight negative electric charge to implantable medical devices using an electrically conductive portion and a power source, which maintains a voltage between 0 and 0.5 volts to reduce interactions with negatively charged cells and inhibit coagulation pathways, thereby preventing thrombosis, infection, and tissue growth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If anticoagulant medications are used to prevent thrombosis, then the propensity of clot formation is reduced, but the risk of bleeding increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the chemical/physiological mechanism of anticoagulant medications with an electrical field mechanism. A conductive coating is applied to the implant surface, connected to a power source that generates an electrical field to prevent thrombosis formation, thereby avoiding the bleeding risks associated with pharmacological anticoagulants
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the implant surface from electrically neutral to electrically active. By applying a conductive coating and connecting it to a power source, the implant surface generates an electrical field that actively prevents thrombosis, representing a fundamental parameter change from passive to active thrombosis prevention
2Reliability
If heparin solution is filled in catheters to prevent thrombosis, then clot formation is reduced, but the complexity of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the thrombosis prevention function from complex chemical solutions (heparin-filled catheters) and implements it through a simpler electrical field mechanism. The conductive coating and power source replace the need for heparin solution filling, reducing device complexity while maintaining thrombosis prevention efficacy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the chemical mechanism of heparin-coated catheters with an electrical field mechanism. Instead of relying on heparin solution or coating, the implant uses an electrical field generated by a conductive coating and power source to prevent thrombosis, simplifying the overall device architecture
3Reliability
If implantable devices are used to treat medical conditions, then patient outcomes improve, but susceptibility to infection and thrombosis increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by pre-establishing an electrical field on the implant surface before contact with blood or tissues. This electrical field proactively prevents thrombosis and microbial adherence, countering the harmful effects before they can occur, rather than reacting after infection or clotting begins
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces passive implant surfaces with active electrical field-generating surfaces. The conductive coating and power source create an electrical environment that actively repels negatively charged cells and inhibits coagulation pathways, providing dual protection against both thrombosis and infection
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 application of a negative electric charge effectively reduces microbial adherence and blood clotting on medical implants, minimizing the risk of infection and thrombosis, and potentially eliminating the need for anticoagulant medications, thus enhancing the longevity and safety of implanted devices.
Implementation Method 1
Applying a slight negative electric charge to implantable medical devices using an electrically conductive portion and a power source, which maintains a voltage between 0 and 0.5 volts
Implementation Method 2
to reduce interactions with negatively charged cells and inhibit the intrinsic or extrinsic pathways of the coagulation cascade
Data Source
AI summary
A system for preventing thrombosis in an implantable medical device includes an implantable medical device sized for implantation at least partially within a patient's body. The device includes an at least partially electrically conductive portion that is disposed within a patient's body upon implantation, an electrode coupled to the electrically conductive portion of the device; and a power source coupled to the electrode. The power source provides a negative electric charge to the at least partially electrically conductive portion for an indefinite period of time. The device may be configured to resist thrombosis, infection, and/or undesired tissue growth via the charged conductive portion once implanted. Exemplary embodiments of the implantable medical device include a hemodialysis vasculature graft, a dialysis catheter, a coronary artery, and a heart valve.