Hierarchical Microstructured Hemostat for Rapid Clot Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies lack effective microstructured surfaces that can rapidly stop blood flow from defects in living tissue and provide a functional biomarker for monitoring clot quality and therapeutic manipulation effects.
Innovation Solution
A hierarchically arranged microstructured surface with fractal dimensions between 2.06 and 2.08, featuring alternating high and low energy regions, promotes thrombus formation by concentrating blood components and guiding clot morphology, utilizing chemical coagulants like Gardenia fruit extract and oxidized polysaccharides to enhance coagulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a microstructured surface is designed to promote rapid clot formation, then hemostatic effectiveness is improved, but the risk of thromboembolic disease increases due to denser, less permeable clots
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a microstructured surface with heterogeneous features of varying sizes (micron and sub-micron scale) that generate localized differences in surface energy. This results in non-uniform clot density distribution, with denser regions promoting rapid hemostasis and more permeable regions allowing plasmin diffusion, thereby simultaneously improving clot formation rate while reducing thromboembolic risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes porous material principles by designing a microstructured surface with controlled porosity and hierarchical pore structures. This allows the clot to form with optimized permeability characteristics - dense enough to stop bleeding rapidly but with sufficient porosity to enable fibrinolytic enzyme penetration and prevent pathological thrombus formation.
2Speed
If the microstructure density is increased to stop blood flow rapidly, then hemostatic speed is improved, but clot permeability decreases, hampering fibrinolytic enzyme activity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the microstructured surface into hierarchical levels of features (micron-scale and sub-micron-scale elements). This segmented structure creates a clot with corresponding hierarchical porosity - dense at the macro level for rapid hemostasis but with micro-scale channels maintained for enzyme diffusion, thus achieving both rapid blood flow cessation and preserved fibrinolytic activity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dimensionality change by transitioning from a two-dimensional surface description to a three-dimensional hierarchical microstructure with fractal dimension 2.07. This adds a depth dimension with varying pore sizes and surface energy gradients, enabling the clot to simultaneously achieve high density for rapid hemostasis and sufficient permeability for enzyme penetration through the vertical dimension.
3Manufacturing precision
If a hierarchical microstructure with fractal dimension 2.07 is implemented, then clot morphology control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by designing a microstructured surface that leverages natural clotting processes and self-organization phenomena. The hierarchical microstructure with fractal dimension 2.07 guides fibrin fiber assembly and platelet aggregation through physical cues alone, allowing the clot to self-organize into the desired morphology without requiring complex active control mechanisms, thereby achieving precise clot morphology control while limiting device complexity.
4Loss of time
If surface energy gradients are created to guide clot formation, then clotting time control is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by systematically varying surface energy parameters across the microstructured surface. Different regions are assigned specific surface energy values through controlled chemical composition and topography, creating gradients that guide clot propagation speed and morphology. This parameter-based approach enables precise clotting time control while using established surface modification techniques that remain manufacturable.
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 microstructured surface accelerates clot formation, stops blood flow before coagulation, and provides a diagnostic tool for coagulation state monitoring, enhancing clot density and stability.
Implementation Method 1
the microstructured surface is configured to have a fractal dimension of between 2.06 and 2.08, and wherein the microstructured surface is configured to promote thrombus formation when in contact with blood
Implementation Method 2
the at least two surface textures may be configured to create a plurality of spatially distributed surface energy gradients
Implementation Method 3
promotes thrombus formation when in contact with blood
Implementation Method 4
a hierarchically arranged microstructured surface that is configured to have a fractal dimension of between 2.06 and 2.08
Implementation Method 5
the hierarchically arranged microstructured surface is configured to have an activated partial thromboplastin time that is reduced relative to a surface that lacks a hierarchical microstructure arrangement
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3~3A
AI summary
A microstructured hemostat comprises a hierarchically microstructured surface (300), composed of multiple layers of microstructure (302, 306, 308, 310), each characterized by one or more length scales. Microstructured hemostats of the present invention, can reduce the time for blood coagulation, control the morphology of the coagulation, and provide a novel diagnostic platform for evaluation of coagulation function from a morphological perspective.