Inflatable Bone Tamp With Independently Expandable Bodies

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional minimally invasive procedures for treating osteolytic lesions, such as those caused by artificial joint replacements or metastatic cancer, face challenges due to the limited size and versatility of conventional balloon catheters, which are inadequate for larger lesions and do not effectively accommodate the amorphous nature of these lesions, necessitating a more effective and efficient method for bone cavity creation and reinforcement.

Innovation Solution

A bone treatment system comprising an elongated shaft with independently inflatable expandable bodies, allowing for controlled bone compression and cavity creation, followed by injection of a flowable reinforcement material to restore structural integrity, tailored to the specific size and shape of the lesion through a multi-channel lumen and connector system for precise inflation and material delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional single balloon catheters are used to compact bone and create cavities for reinforcing material, then the procedure is minimally invasive, but the catheters are too small for use with larger osteolytic lesions and do not allow for versatile control of balloon inflation to accommodate the amorphous nature of osteolytic lesions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different lesion sizes and shapesVSAvoidballoon catheter size
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The single balloon catheter is divided into multiple independently inflatable balloons arranged in series along the catheter shaft. This segmentation allows each balloon to be inflated independently to different volumes, enabling the system to adapt to various lesion sizes and shapes while maintaining the ability to treat larger lesions that would be impossible for a single balloon of equivalent total volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The balloons are designed with dynamic inflation control, where each balloon can be inflated to different extents based on the specific lesion characteristics. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the system to accommodate the amorphous nature of osteolytic lesions by selectively expanding balloons to match the irregular geometry of the lesion cavity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Volume of moving object

If multiple balloons are used to treat larger osteolytic lesions, then the adaptability to different lesion sizes is improved, but the device complexity increases with multiple lumens and independent inflation control

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveballoon catheter sizeVSAvoidmulti-lumen catheter structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The multi-lumen catheter is designed with a modular connector system that can selectively connect to different balloon lumens. The connector assembly includes multiple ports that can be configured to inflate different combinations of balloons, providing universal functionality for treating various lesion sizes and shapes with a single device design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The multiple balloons are nested along the catheter shaft in a compact arrangement, with each balloon positioned within the overall catheter structure. This nested configuration allows the multi-lumen system to maintain a relatively simple external structure while accommodating the complexity of multiple independent inflation chambers within the catheter body.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If minimally invasive percutaneous procedures are used to treat osteolytic lesions, then patient trauma is reduced and recovery period is shortened, but the procedure requires precise control of bone compression and reinforcement material delivery

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepatient traumaVSAvoidcontrol of bone compression
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates feedback control through independent inflation ports that allow the operator to monitor and adjust the inflation of each balloon individually. This feedback mechanism enables precise control of bone compression forces by allowing incremental adjustment of each balloon's volume based on real-time assessment of bone compaction and cavity formation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Each balloon in the multi-balloon system can be inflated to different pressures and volumes to create localized compression zones tailored to specific regions of the osteolytic lesion. This local quality control allows precise delivery of reinforcement material to different areas of the lesion while minimizing trauma to surrounding healthy bone tissue.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

Enables effective and efficient treatment of osteolytic lesions by allowing for tailored bone compression and reinforcement, reducing the need for multiple deployments and minimizing trauma to the patient, with a reduced recovery period and improved structural support for the bone.

Implementation Method 1

a first expandable member having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, the first expandable member configured to displace a portion of a bone when moved from its collapsed configuration to its expanded configuration

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectExpansion:

Implementation Method 2

a second expandable member having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, the second expandable member configured to limit movement of the first expandable member within a body of a patient when in its expanded configuration

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectExpansion:

Data Source

PatentEP2701619B1Inflatable bone tamp
Publication Date: 2019.06.05 MEDTRONIC HLDG CO SARL
  • EP2701619B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2701619B1 patent drawingFigure 2~5
  • EP2701619B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

A system comprises an inflatable bone tamp including a plurality of linearly aligned expandable bodies. The system further comprises an elongated tubular shaft extending through the plurality of linearly aligned expandable bodies. The elongated tubular shaft includes a shaft wall and an interior partition structure. The system further comprises a plurality of channels extending through the shaft, each of the channels formed by a segment of the shaft wall and the interior partition structure and each of the channels in communication with the respective one of the plurality of expandable bodies via openings in the shaft. Each of the expandable bodies is independently inflatable.