Porous Scaffold for Metastatic Cell Capture

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current therapeutic options for metastatic cancer are limited, as metastatic cells often remain undetected until the disease burden is high, and existing treatments struggle to effectively capture and treat disseminated tumor cells.

Innovation Solution

A device comprising an electrically conductive or semiconductive material surrounded by a biocompatible porous scaffold, which captures metastatic cells and applies heat through electromagnetic induction, selectively targeting and killing the cancer cells without invasive methods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If current therapeutic options are used for metastatic cancer, then treatment can be provided, but the treatment effectiveness is limited because metastatic cells remain undetected until disease burden is high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection reliabilityVSAvoiddetection time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The device performs preliminary action by capturing metastatic cells before they can establish significant disease burden. The porous scaffold is implanted in strategic locations where metastatic cells are likely to travel, allowing early interception and containment of disseminated tumor cells before they can spread widely or become undetectable by conventional means.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If invasive methods are used to treat metastatic cells, then treatment effectiveness may improve, but patient trauma and recovery time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidpatient trauma

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces mechanical invasive treatment methods with electromagnetic induction heating. Instead of using surgical tools or mechanical probes to destroy cancer cells, the device uses electromagnetic fields to induce currents in the conductive material, generating heat that thermally ablates the metastatic cells within the scaffold pores, eliminating the need for invasive mechanical intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Strength

If a non-porous structure is used for the scaffold, then structural strength is improved, but cell capture capability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescaffold strengthVSAvoidcell capture capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The scaffold is designed with a porous structure that provides both mechanical support and cell capture functionality. The pores are sized and distributed to intercept and retain metastatic cells while the overall scaffold architecture and supporting struts maintain sufficient structural strength to withstand implantation and physiological conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

4Reliability

If high temperature is applied to kill metastatic cells, then cell destruction is effective, but damage to surrounding healthy tissue increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell destruction effectivenessVSAvoidcollateral tissue damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The heating is localized to the immediate vicinity of the conductive material within the scaffold through electromagnetic induction. The electromagnetic fields and resulting thermal effects are concentrated in the scaffold and captured metastatic cells, while the surrounding healthy tissue receives minimal thermal exposure, achieving selective destruction of cancer cells with protection of normal tissue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 solution effectively captures and destroys metastatic cancer cells, reducing their spread and improving treatment outcomes for metastatic disease by using a non-invasive heating method that is biocompatible and targeted.

Implementation Method 1

applying an electromagnetic induction stimulus to the device at a target strength and target frequency for a target duration, wherein the electromagnetic induction stimulus is selected to cause the electrically conductive or electrically semiconductive material to heat at least a portion of the porous scaffold to at least a target temperature

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

The electrically conductive or electrically semiconductive material may act as an inductively heated thermal source to heat the metastatic cells captured in the porous scaffold upon exposure to electromagnetic induction stimulus

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal ablation: Ablation

Data Source

PatentUS11980410B2Composite scaffolds for thermal ablation of metastatic cancer cells

Publication Date: 2024.05.14 REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

AI summary

A device includes an electrically conductive or electrically semiconductive material and a biocompatible porous scaffold around the electrically conductive or electrically semiconductive material. The biocompatible porous scaffold includes a biocompatible polymer and pores configured to capture metastatic cells.