MRI-Visible Trajectory Guide for Precise Biomedical Targeting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current biomedical treatments lack precise and easy-to-use systems for delivering therapeutic agents to specific locations within the body, particularly in areas protected by barriers like the blood-brain barrier, which can lead to inadequate treatment of neurological disorders and residual damage to surrounding tissues.

Innovation Solution

A method using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to guide an adjustable targeting device with a trajectory guide, allowing for precise adjustment of a turret and channel alignment to target desired areas within the body, combined with adjustable targeting systems and delivery devices for therapeutic agents.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional drug delivery methods are used, then the treatment can be applied broadly, but the precision of targeting the disease site is insufficient leading to residual damage to surrounding tissues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetargeting precisionVSAvoiddamage to surrounding tissues
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an MRI-visible style as an intermediary element that enables precise visualization and measurement of the targeting trajectory. This style acts as a mediator between the targeting device and the MRI imaging system, allowing for accurate determination of the trajectory before actual therapeutic agent delivery, thereby improving targeting precision while minimizing damage to surrounding tissues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces conventional mechanical targeting methods with MRI-guided visualization. Instead of relying solely on mechanical positioning systems, the invention uses magnetic resonance imaging to visualize the trajectory through the MRI-visible style, substituting mechanical estimation with precise imaging-based measurement to achieve better targeting accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If precise targeting systems are implemented, then the treatment accuracy improves, but the complexity of the system increases making it harder to use

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetargeting accuracyVSAvoidease of use
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the complex imaging and measurement functions into a separate, dedicated component - the MRI-visible style. This style can be easily inserted into the targeting device channel and removed, separating the precision measurement function from the main device. This modular approach maintains high targeting accuracy while simplifying the overall operation for the user.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical parameter of the style to be MRI-visible, transforming it from an invisible mechanical element to one that can be visualized through magnetic resonance imaging. This parameter change enables precise trajectory determination without adding complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms, thereby maintaining ease of operation while improving targeting accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If an adjustable targeting system with MRI visualization is used, then the trajectory determination precision improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetrajectory determination precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the targeting system into distinct functional components: the adjustable turret with channel, the MRI-visible style, and the base. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently - the style provides visualization, the turret provides adjustability, and the base provides stability. This modular segmentation reduces overall system complexity while maintaining high trajectory determination precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The MRI-visible style serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a trajectory indicator for MRI visualization, a mechanical guide within the channel, and a reference for determining the trajectory angle. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining high measurement precision.

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

Enables precise delivery of therapeutic agents to targeted areas while minimizing damage to surrounding tissues, improving treatment efficacy for neurological disorders and other conditions.

Implementation Method 1

visualizing the MRI-visible style using an MRI imager; determining the trajectory of the channel based on the visualizing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic resonance imaging:

Data Source

PatentEP3831281B1Devices and systems for biomedical targeting and delivery
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 VOYAGER THERAPEUTICS INC
  • EP3831281B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3831281B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4F
  • EP3831281B1 patent drawingFigure 5A~7A

AI summary

The present disclosure provides methods for targeting a biomedical system. Aspects of the subject methods include determining the trajectory of a targeting device using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of a MRI-visible style of a trajectory guide that is compatible with the targeting device. Targeted biomedical systems may be utilized for a variety of purposes including targeted delivery of a therapeutic, holding a therapeutic device, positioning of a therapeutic device and other uses. Also provided are devices and systems that can be used in practicing the described methods including but not limited to trajectory guides and adjustable targeting systems, as well as non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computing device, cause a computing device to perform steps of the described methods.