Implantable Intraocular Filter Capturing VEGF
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for ocular disorders associated with proteins like VEGF are costly and require repeat intraocular injections, and there is a need for long-term treatment regimens that do not rely on these injections.
Innovation Solution
An implantable device with a substrate capable of capturing target molecules, such as VEGF, using hydroxyapatite and ceramics, which can be implanted in the eye to capture and potentially regenerate the target molecules, reducing the need for repeated injections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If repeat intraocular injections are used to treat ocular disorders, then the treatment can be administered, but the treatment requires frequent repeat injections and is costly
Solution Approach 1:
The implantable device is pre-loaded with substrate material capable of capturing target molecules before implantation. This preliminary preparation allows the device to immediately begin capturing VEGF and other proteins upon implantation, eliminating the need for repeated injections and providing long-term treatment in a single procedure
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed to autonomously capture target molecules from the intraocular environment through its substrate material without requiring external intervention or repeat procedures. The substrate continuously binds VEGF and other proteins as they appear in the eye, providing self-sustaining long-term treatment
2Reliability
If current protein-targeting treatments are used, then ocular disorders can be treated, but the treatments are costly and require repeat injections
Solution Approach 1:
The implantable device provides continuous capture of target molecules throughout the intraocular space. The substrate material remains actively bound to VEGF and other proteins over an extended period, ensuring uninterrupted treatment action and eliminating gaps between treatments that characterize repeat injection protocols
3Duration of action of moving object
If an implantable device with substrate is used to capture target molecules, then long-term treatment is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device utilizes porous substrate material that provides high surface area for target molecule capture while maintaining a simple overall device structure. The porosity of the substrate enables extensive VEGF binding capacity without requiring complex device architecture, resolving the contradiction between extended treatment duration and device simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The implantable device employs composite substrate materials that combine capture capabilities with biocompatibility and structural integrity. These composite materials provide long-term treatment functionality while maintaining device simplicity through material-level solutions rather than structural complexity
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 device effectively captures and can regenerate target molecules like VEGF, providing a long-term treatment option that alleviates symptoms of ocular disorders without the need for frequent injections, thereby reducing costs and improving patient outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
a substrate capable of capturing a target molecule present intraocularly
Data Source
AI summary
An implantable device comprising a substrate capable of capturing an intraocular target molecule and to methods of use thereof. The substrate may be capable of capturing a target molecule present in the eye and/or from fluid of the eye (e.g., an intraocular target molecule). In some embodiments, the substrate has a relatively high affinity for a target molecule.