Intrathecal Catheter Contoured Surface for Drug Dispersion Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current implantable medical devices fail to effectively minimize or delay medicament dispersion within the cerebrospinal fluid, leading to rapid distribution of therapeutic agents throughout the central nervous system, which can reduce the efficacy of localized treatments and increase side effects.

Innovation Solution

An implantable catheter with a contoured exterior surface is designed to inhibit medicament dispersion by creating a slower moving boundary layer of cerebrospinal fluid around the infusion port, using circumferential rings or laterally extending portions to shield the medicament from natural fluid flow, thereby maintaining a higher concentration of the medicament at the treatment site for a longer period.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a standard catheter is used for intrathecal drug delivery, then the medicament can be delivered to the cerebrospinal fluid, but the medicament disperses rapidly throughout the central nervous system, reducing localized treatment efficacy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedicament concentration at treatment siteVSAvoiddrug dispersion control

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The catheter incorporates a contoured outer surface with circumferential rings that create localized flow patterns around the infusion port. This geometric modification creates a boundary layer effect that confines medicament dispersion to a localized region, maintaining higher concentrations at the treatment site while preventing widespread distribution throughout the central nervous system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The catheter employs a contoured outer surface with curved circumferential rings instead of a straight cylindrical shape. This curvature creates a boundary layer that redirects cerebrospinal fluid flow around the infusion port, effectively containing the medicament plume and reducing axial dispersion along the catheter length.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Productivity

If the medicament is allowed to disperse naturally in the cerebrospinal fluid, then the drug distributes throughout the central nervous system, but this reduces the therapeutic concentration at the target site and increases side effects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetherapeutic efficacyVSAvoidside effects

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By modifying the catheter surface geometry with circumferential rings, the system creates localized flow containment that maintains high medicament concentrations at the treatment site. This localized confinement ensures therapeutic efficacy is achieved at the target while preventing excessive drug distribution to other areas of the central nervous system, thereby reducing side effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If the catheter has a simple cylindrical shape, then the device is easy to manufacture and implant, but it cannot control or reduce medicament dispersion in the cerebrospinal fluid

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecatheter manufacturing complexityVSAvoidmedicament dispersion volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The catheter incorporates circumferential rings that create a contoured surface geometry. This curvature modification is integrated into the catheter manufacturing process and creates a boundary layer effect that confines medicament dispersion. The geometric feature adds minimal manufacturing complexity while significantly reducing the volume of dispersed medicament in the cerebrospinal fluid.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 contoured surface design significantly reduces the volume of dispersed medicament, maintaining it in a localized area, potentially improving therapeutic outcomes and minimizing side effects by retaining higher concentrations of medicament at the treatment site for extended periods.

Implementation Method 1

contoured exterior surface in proximity to an infusion port configured to inhibit dispersion of medicament within the cerebrospinal fluid... create a slower moving boundary layer of cerebrospinal fluid around the infusion port

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBoundary layer: Boundary Layer

Data Source

PatentUS11344714B2Intrathecal catheter with features to reduce drug dispersion

Publication Date: 2022.05.31 MEDTRONIC INC

AI summary

A medical device configured to restrict medicament dispersion within a cerebrospinal fluid flow of the patient. The medical device including an implantable catheter having a distal end configured to be positioned within a flow of the cerebrospinal fluid, a proximal end, a body defining a lumen extending lengthwise along the implantable catheter configured to enable a flow of medicament from the proximal end to an infusion port located in proximity to the distal end, and a contoured surface defined by an exterior of the body in proximity to the infusion port configured to inhibit dispersion of the medicament within the cerebrospinal fluid.