Light-Activated Adhesive Occlusion System for Left Atrial Appendage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for occluding the left atrial appendage, such as using embolic coils and liquid embolics, face challenges like coil migration, thrombogenic risks, and difficulty in maintaining light-activated adhesives at the treatment site due to high pulsation pressure and complex morphology, which can lead to complications like stroke.
Innovation Solution
An adhesive occlusion system that includes a catheter with a lumen for delivering light-activated adhesives, integrated with a fiber optic member to provide immediate light exposure for curing, ensuring the adhesive solidifies and adheres to tissue, thereby preventing migration and enhancing occlusion efficacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If light-activated adhesive is delivered to the treatment site, then occlusion efficacy is improved, but the adhesive may migrate before solidifying due to high pulsation pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive is delivered to the treatment site first, positioned within the left atrial appendage, and then light activation is applied to initiate solidification. This preliminary positioning ensures the adhesive is in place before the solidification process begins, preventing migration under pulsation pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical anchoring systems (such as coils and meshes that rely on physical entanglement and friction) with a light-activated chemical solidification system. The adhesive transitions from liquid to solid state through photopolymerization when exposed to light, providing immediate stabilization without mechanical components.
2Reliability
If embolic coils are used for occlusion, then occlusive advantage is provided, but coil migration may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical coil systems with a liquid adhesive that solidifies in place through light activation. This eliminates the migration issue inherent in mechanical coils by using chemical bonding and adhesion to tissue rather than mechanical entanglement, providing stable positioning without movement risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive's physical state is changed from liquid to solid through light activation, transforming its properties in situ. This parameter change (from fluid to solid) occurs after delivery, allowing the adhesive to be delivered in a controllable liquid form and then stabilized as a solid, preventing migration while maintaining occlusive effectiveness.
3Manufacturing precision
If the adhesive hardening time is extended, then proper setting is achieved, but maintaining the adhesive at the treatment site becomes difficult due to high pulsation pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive is delivered and positioned at the treatment site before light activation begins. This preliminary action ensures the adhesive remains at the target location during the hardening process, as it has already been placed in position and is ready for immediate solidification upon light exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces time-dependent mechanical retention methods with light-activated chemical solidification. Instead of relying on the adhesive remaining in place through mechanical means during an extended hardening period, the system uses immediate photopolymerization to lock the adhesive in position rapidly, eliminating the retention problem.
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 system effectively occludes the left atrial appendage by ensuring rapid solidification and adherence of the adhesive, reducing the risk of migration and complications, and providing a stable occlusive mass that binds to tissue, thus preventing stroke-causing clots from forming and migrating.
Implementation Method 1
one of the embolic agents is a liquid or gel adhesive which cross-links and hardens and adheres to tissue upon exposure to light
Data Source
AI summary
System and methods of delivering adhesive material are described for occluding target locations within a patient. The systems include a catheter configured to deliver adhesive to a target location and one or more of a light source to harden the adhesive, a retention structure to contain the adhesive prior to curing, a balloon to occupy a target location, and an open cell foam plug to occupy a target location.