Hydrogel-Forming Polymer Coating for Needle Tract Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In medical procedures, it is challenging to prevent the migration of patient tissue or delivered substances along the needle or cannula tract, particularly during biopsy or drug infusion, where backflow of drugs can occur due to high infusion pressures.
Innovation Solution
Coating needles or cannulas with a biocompatible polymer that swells upon contact with tissue, forming a hydrogel to seal the tract and prevent backflow, using a dual layer coating of polyethylene oxide and sodium alginate with a protective outer layer of polyvinyl alcohol.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high infusion rates are used to deliver drugs to target tissue, then drug delivery efficiency is improved, but drug backflow along the needle tract increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by coating the needle with hydrogel-forming polymers before the medical procedure. This pre-applied coating creates a blocking mechanism that prevents drug backflow along the needle tract while allowing high-rate infusion to proceed efficiently. The hydrogel forms a physical barrier that stops backflow before it can occur during high-pressure infusion.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydrogel-forming polymer coating acts as an intermediary substance between the infused drug and the needle tract. It mediates the interaction by forming a gel barrier that selectively prevents drug backflow while permitting forward delivery, thus resolving the contradiction between delivery efficiency and backflow prevention.
2Productivity
If a needle is withdrawn after tissue removal, then biopsy procedure is completed, but tissue cells may migrate along the needle tract to other body parts
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrogel-forming polymer is applied to the needle before the biopsy procedure, creating a preliminary blocking barrier. When the needle is withdrawn, this pre-formed hydrogel barrier prevents tissue cells from migrating along the needle tract, while still allowing the biopsy procedure to be completed efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymer coating serves as an intermediary barrier between the removed tissue and the needle tract. It mediates by forming a gel that physically blocks cell migration while allowing the needle to be withdrawn after biopsy completion.
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 polymer coating effectively reduces backflow and prevents tissue migration, ensuring that infused drugs remain at the target site, with dual layer coatings showing superior performance in preventing infusate backflow and maintaining distribution within the target area.
Implementation Method 1
Coating needles or cannulas with a biocompatible polymer that swells upon contact with tissue, forming a hydrogel to seal the tract and prevent backflow
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and methods for blocking needle tracts are disclosed. In some embodiments, the needle tracts are blocked by using a needle that includes an elongated shaft that defines an outer surface, and a polymer coating applied to the outer surface of the shaft, the coating being adapted to block the tract formed by insertion of the needle into an object.