Minimally Invasive Implantable Devices With Protrusions for Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing minimally invasive implantable devices for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) tend to migrate and/or rotate within the patient's body after implantation, posing undesirable effects, and there is a need for devices that inhibit migration and rotation while allowing easy removal.
Innovation Solution
The devices feature a cylindrical body with larger diameters at the ends and protruding elements, such as screw thread patterns or discrete ribs, which increase contact area with the body to inhibit migration and rotation, and are made of materials like nitinol, stainless steel, or silicone, allowing easy removal when desired.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If implantable devices are used to treat BPH, then minimally invasive treatment is achieved, but device migration and rotation occur within the patient's body
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates protruding elements at specific locations (ends and/or intermediate portions) of the cylindrical body to increase contact area locally, preventing migration and rotation while maintaining the overall minimally invasive profile of the device
Solution Approach 2:
The device transitions from a simple cylindrical structure to one with three-dimensional protruding elements (ribs, fins, or other configurations) that extend outward to engage with surrounding tissues, adding dimensional complexity to prevent migration
2Duration of action of stationary object
If devices are implanted for long-term treatment, then BPH symptoms are managed, but encrustation occurs in the implanted region
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed with easy removal capability, allowing extraction of the implant from the body to prevent encrustation complications from accumulating during long-term use, while still providing sustained treatment benefit during the implantation period
Solution Approach 2:
The device can be removed and discarded after serving its treatment purpose, with the ability to recover the treatment benefit through re-implantation if needed, avoiding permanent encrustation issues
3Reliability
If devices anchor to tissues to prevent migration, then device stability is improved, but removal becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs a dynamic contact mechanism where protruding elements provide temporary mechanical engagement with surrounding tissues to prevent migration during use, but this engagement is not permanent or anchoring-based, allowing for relatively easy removal when needed
Data Source
AI summary
A minimally invasive implantable device has a generally cylindrical device body that includes: a first end having a first element; a second end having a second element; a wall disposed between the first end and the second end, and having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface defines a lumen extending between the first end and the second end; and at least one protruding element protruding from the outer surface, wherein an outermost diameter of the first element and an outermost diameter of the second element is larger than a diameter of the outer surface of the wall, and the at least one protruding element does not protrude beyond the outermost diameter of the first element or the outermost diameter of the second element.