Iodinated Shape Memory Polymers for Medical Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical devices with metal components pose challenges for imaging using CT scans and MRI due to metal artifacts, necessitating alternative, potentially more invasive and costly imaging methods, highlighting the need for non-metallic, radiopaque polymers that can provide sufficient radiopacity for clinical viewing.
Innovation Solution
Development of shape memory polymers (SMPs) incorporating covalently bound iodine atoms, which are homogeneously distributed to achieve radiopacity without metal components, ensuring the polymers remain amorphous to prevent crystallinity and maintain mechanical integrity in physiological environments, with a crosslinked network structure formed by monofunctional iodinated and multifunctional non-iodinated monomers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If metal components are used in medical devices, then mechanical strength and radiopacity are improved, but metal artifacts interfere with CT and MRI imaging
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the radiopacity function from metal components and transfers it to iodine atoms covalently bound to polymer chains. This removes the harmful metal artifacts while preserving the essential radiopacity needed for imaging, allowing clear CT and MRI imaging without interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameter by incorporating iodine atoms (high atomic number) into the polymer structure through covalent bonding. This parameter change provides sufficient radiopacity for imaging while eliminating the metal artifact problem associated with traditional metal components.
2Reliability
If iodine is incorporated into polymer to achieve radiopacity, then radiopacity is improved, but polymer may become crystalline which compromises mechanical integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by creating heterogeneity in the polymer structure through covalently bound iodine atoms at specific locations along the polymer chains. This local modification prevents long-range order and crystallization while maintaining radiopacity where the iodine atoms are bound, thus preserving mechanical integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite structure where iodine atoms are chemically integrated into the polymer matrix rather than added as separate filler particles. This composite approach ensures homogeneous distribution of iodine that provides radiopacity without creating the phase separation and crystallization issues that would compromise mechanical properties.
3Strength
If crosslinked network structure is formed with iodinated monomers, then mechanical stability is improved, but water absorption may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical parameter of the crosslinking monomers by selecting non-ionic, hydrophobic structures that resist water absorption. The crosslinked network formed with these modified monomers maintains mechanical stability through covalent bonding while the hydrophobic character of the monomer structure prevents excessive water uptake that would compromise device performance.
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 iodinated SMPs provide effective radiopacity for clinical imaging while maintaining mechanical stability and resistance to water absorption, allowing for the creation of medical devices that can self-expand and change shape in response to temperature, facilitating less invasive procedures and improved imaging capabilities without the limitations of metal-based devices.
Implementation Method 1
The iodinated SMPs provide effective radiopacity for clinical imaging
Implementation Method 2
shape memory polymers (SMPs) incorporating covalently bound iodine atoms... allowing for the creation of medical devices that can self-expand and change shape in response to temperature
Data Source
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Figure 3
Figure 4a~4b
AI summary
Radiopaque polymer compositions and methods for making the compositions are provided. These radiopaque polymer compositions include shape memory polymer compositions comprising a crosslinked polymer network, the network comprising a first repeating unit derived from a monofunctional iodinated monomer and a second repeating unit derived from a multifunctional non-iodinated monomer wherein neither of the two monomers is fluorinated. Devices formed from radiopaque polymer compositions are also provided.