Polymer Coating Catalyst for Medical Device Oligomer Migration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Medical devices often face issues with undesirable side effects due to the migration of free oligomer and monomer compounds from their polymer bodies, which can lead to thrombogenic or embolic effects in biological environments.

Innovation Solution

A coating composition incorporating a catalyst supported by a polymer that chemically bonds these migrating compounds, preventing their aggregation on the device surface, using metal alkoxides or Grignard reagents as catalysts within a support polymer like polyether block amide or polyurethane.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a polymer body is used for medical devices, then the device structure and functionality are achieved, but free oligomer and monomer compounds migrate from the polymer body causing thrombogenic or embolic effects

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovebiocompatibilityVSAvoidmigration of free oligomer and monomer compounds
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A coating layer is applied as an intermediary between the polymer body and the biological environment. This coating contains a catalyst that chemically bonds migrating free oligomer and monomer compounds, preventing them from causing thrombogenic or embolic effects while allowing the polymer body to maintain its structural and functional properties

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful migrating compounds (free oligomers and monomers) are converted into beneficial bonded compounds through catalytic chemical bonding within the coating layer. The catalyst transforms the harmful migration process into a useful bonding process that enhances device safety by preventing thrombogenic and embolic effects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Reliability

If a coating is applied to prevent compound migration, then biocompatibility is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovebiocompatibilityVSAvoidcoating structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The coating's chemical properties are optimized by selecting specific catalysts (metal alkoxides or Grignard reagents) and support polymers with appropriate characteristics. By adjusting parameters such as catalyst type, coating thickness, and polymer composition, the coating achieves effective compound bonding while maintaining a relatively simple and manufacturable structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 coating effectively stabilizes the compounds, minimizing their aggregation and associated side effects, thereby enhancing the biocompatibility and performance of medical devices.

Implementation Method 1

The catalyst in the support polymer can act to chemically bond specific compounds migrating from a body of the medical device formed from a polymer to at least one of the polymer and/or other specific compounds migrating from the body of the medical device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical bonding: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

The coating compositions and the coatings formed from the compositions include a catalyst in a support polymer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Data Source

PatentUS8389083B2Polymer coatings with catalyst for medical devices
Publication Date: 2013.03.05 BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED INC

AI summary

Coating compositions and coatings for medical devices formed from the coating compositions that include a catalyst in a support polymer, where the support polymer helps to support and retain the catalyst in the coating on the medical device. The catalyst in the support polymer can act to chemically bond specific compounds migrating from a body of the medical device formed from a polymer to at least one of the polymer and/or other specific compounds migrating from the body of the medical device.