Light-Activated Vascular Scaffolding Catheter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vascular treatments such as balloon catheters and stenting face challenges with re-occlusion and restenosis due to excessive smooth muscle cell proliferation and vascular intimal hyperplasia, leading to recurring health complications and the need for repeated treatments.
Innovation Solution
A catheter system with a coated balloon and light fiber that delivers a light-activated Natural Vascular Scaffolding compound to the vessel wall, allowing controlled drug delivery and functionalization, thereby propping the vessel open and restoring tissue function.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a metallic stent is placed in an artery to mechanically expand and restore blood flow, then vessel patency is restored, but vascular intimalhyperplasia occurs within the vascular lumen resulting in lumen narrowing and restenosis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by delivering and activating the scaffolding compound before significant restenosis can occur. The light-activated compound is administered immediately after stent placement, preventing excessive smooth muscle cell proliferation before it causes lumen narrowing, thereby maintaining vessel patency without the need for repeated interventions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical stent structure with a biological solution using light-activated scaffolding compounds. Instead of relying solely on mechanical expansion, the system uses photodynamic activation of compounds like verteporfin or naphthalimide derivatives to biologically prevent restenosis, substituting mechanical support with biochemical control of tissue proliferation
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a drug-eluting stent is used to inhibit smooth muscle cell proliferation, then restenosis is reduced, but endothelial cell proliferation is also suppressed leading to reduced intima repair and increased thrombosis risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using light activation to deliver the scaffolding effect only to specific areas where restenosis is occurring. The light-activated compounds are selectively activated in the vascular lumen using targeted light delivery, allowing differential effects: promoting smooth muscle cell organization and scaffolding where needed while avoiding suppression of endothelial cell proliferation in other areas, thus maintaining both restenosis prevention and intima repair
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of drug activation from continuous exposure to light-triggered activation. By using light-activated compounds instead of continuously eluting drugs, the system achieves temporal control over the biological effect, activating the scaffolding mechanism only when and where light is applied, thereby avoiding prolonged suppression of endothelial cell function and reducing thrombosis risk
3Object-affected harmful factors
If prolonged antithrombotic drug administration is used to prevent thrombosis at sites with reduced endothelial coverage, then thrombosis risk is reduced, but late thrombosis and restenosis occur upon discontinuance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling the vascular tissue to self-organize and self-repair through the light-activated scaffolding mechanism. The activated compounds promote endogenous tissue organization and endothelial regeneration, allowing the vessel to restore its own integrity and thrombosis resistance without prolonged external drug administration, thereby eliminating the need for long-term antithrombotic therapy and preventing late thrombosis upon discontinuance
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 enables uniform and controlled delivery of therapeutic agents, reducing the risk of re-occlusion and restenosis by promoting endothelial repair and maintaining vessel patency, minimizing the need for prolonged antithrombotic drug administration and reducing late thrombosis risks.
Implementation Method 1
A light source may be supplied to the light fibers for transmittance through the catheter shaft, through the coated balloon and into the vessel wall to activate the one or more drugs
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and methods for tissue restoration are provided. The apparatus may include a catheter shaft extending from a proximal end to a distal tip, the catheter shaft defining lumens including an inflation lumen and a light fiber lumen, a coated balloon positioned on a translucent distal segment of the catheter shaft proximal to the distal tip in fluid communication with the inflation lumen, the coated distal balloon comprising a translucent material and a coated material on an outer surface of the coated balloon, and a light fiber positioned in the catheter shaft in the light fiber lumen and extending through the translucent distal segment.