Low-profile intercranial device for local brain therapy delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies face challenges in delivering medications and therapies directly to the brain due to the blood-brain barrier's selective permeability, and existing craniofacial implants lack the functionality to provide local neurological interventions effectively.
Innovation Solution
The development of a low-profile intercranial device (LID) that includes a base portion with cavities for functional components, such as medicinal therapeutics and physiological condition intervention systems, and conduits for dispensing these components directly to the brain, enabling local delivery of medications, radiation therapy, and neurological interventions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If medications are delivered systemically to the brain, then the blood-brain barrier's selective permeability allows passage of certain materials, but over 60% of pharmaceutical laboratories shut down due to inability to deliver medicines into the brain
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the medication delivery function from the bloodstream and places it directly at the target site (brain) by implanting the device within the cranial bone space, eliminating the blood-brain barrier obstacle entirely
Solution Approach 2:
The device serves as an intermediary platform between the external world and the brain, providing a localized delivery system that bypasses the blood-brain barrier through direct placement in the cranial cavity
2Manufacturing precision
If custom craniofacial implants are used for cranioplasty, then patient-specific reconstruction is achieved, but second-stage operations are required to obtain exact fit and design
Solution Approach 1:
The device is pre-configured with functional components and customized to the patient's anatomy before surgery, allowing single-stage implantation without requiring second-stage operations for adjustment or refinement
Solution Approach 2:
The device combines multiple functions (structural reconstruction, medication delivery, physiological monitoring) into a single implant, eliminating the need for separate procedures to achieve different treatment goals
3Reliability
If battery-powered platforms are used for local neurological medicine delivery, then direct brain delivery is enabled, but the device profile and implantation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the battery-powered medication delivery system with the cranial reconstruction implant itself, integrating multiple functions into a single device rather than using separate components
Solution Approach 2:
Functional components including battery-powered medication delivery systems are nested within the cavities of the cranial implant, allowing compact integration without increasing overall device profile
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a functional, low-profile intercranial device (LID). The LID includes a base portion; at least one cavity associated with the base portion and configured to accept at least one functional component; and at least one conduit having a first end in communication with the at least one cavity. The at least one functional component includes a medicinal, electronic, or optic therapeutic. The at least one conduit is configured to accept the medicinal therapeutic and a second end configured to dispense the therapeutic.