Lymphangiogenesis-Inducing Needle With Deployable Wound Protrusions

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for lymphedema, such as combined physical therapy and lymphaticovenular anastomosis, are either burdensome for patients or require advanced surgical techniques that are not universally accessible, and there is a need for a more effective radical treatment method.

Innovation Solution

A lymphangiogenesis inducing device with a puncture member and a rod-shaped body featuring a wound imparting structure to create fine wounds in the tissue, promoting the formation of new lymphatic vessels as a bypass.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If combined physical therapy is used to treat lymphedema, then the progression of lymphedema can be delayed, but the treatment burden on patients becomes large requiring daily self-care including compression

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness in delaying lymphedema progressionVSAvoidtreatment burden on patients

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical compression therapy system with a biological regeneration system. Instead of applying external mechanical compression forces to manage lymphedema, the invention uses a needle device to create micro-wounds that stimulate the body's natural lymphangiogenesis process, generating new lymphatic vessels to bypass blocked areas and fundamentally resolve the lymphedema without requiring ongoing mechanical compression.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If lymphaticovenular anastomosis is performed to provide radical treatment for lymphedema, then effective treatment can be achieved, but advanced plastic surgical techniques are required limiting accessibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness of radical treatmentVSAvoidsurgical technique complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the complex lymphaticovenular anastomosis procedure into a simplified multi-step needle insertion process. Instead of requiring complex surgical dissection and anastomosis techniques, the invention uses a needle device with multiple needle holes to create controlled micro-wounds at specific intervals, allowing new lymphatic vessels to grow naturally along the insertion path, thereby achieving radical treatment with minimal surgical skill.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs the body's own regenerative capacity to perform the complex task of creating new lymphatic connections. The micro-wounds created by the needle insertion stimulate the patient's own lymphatic endothelial cells to proliferate and form new lymphatic vessels, eliminating the need for advanced surgical techniques to manually create anastomoses between lymphatic and venous systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If lymphaticovenular anastomosis is used for radical treatment, then lymphedema can be effectively treated, but the procedure is difficult to perform and unified standards are not established

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidprocedure standardization

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal treatment protocol that can be applied to various lymphedema cases regardless of the specific anatomical variations. The needle device with its array of needle holes provides a standardized insertion method that works across different patients and anatomical conditions, establishing a unified procedure that eliminates the variability and lack of standards associated with traditional lymphaticovenular anastomosis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 device enables the efficient generation of new lymphatic vessels without complex procedures, effectively alleviating lymphedema by enhancing lymphatic vessel neogenesis and reducing patient burden.

Implementation Method 1

a puncture member having a distal end portion capable of puncturing the living tissue and a through hole penetrating the puncture member along a central axis and extending from the distal end portion toward a proximal end, and a rod-shaped body inserted into the through hole and capable of protruding from the distal end portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical puncture: Impact Force

Data Source

PatentUS20250302477A1Lymphangiogenesis inducing device

Publication Date: 2025.10.02 TERUMO KK

AI summary

A lymphangiogenesis inducing device includes: a puncture member comprising a distal end portion configured to puncture living tissue, and a through hole penetrating the puncture member along a central axis and extending from the distal end portion toward a proximal end; and a rod-shaped body inserted into the through hole and configured to be moved so as to protrude from the distal end portion. The rod-shaped body comprises a shaft portion, and a wound imparting structure comprising at least one protrusion located on the shaft portion and configured to impart a wound to the living tissue. The at least one protrusion has a protruding height from the shaft portion that increases when the at least one protrusion transitions from a state in which the at least one protrusion is located in the through hole to a state in which the at least one protrusion is located outside the through hole.