Radiation Source Implant Assembly With Protective Capsule Layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Biodegradable polymer stents face limitations due to low radial force, making them less applicable and difficult to maintain structural integrity during and after implantation, while metallic stents pose removal challenges and risks.
Innovation Solution
A biodegradable implant composed of a filament with a core-sheath structure, where the sheath contains a magnetically heatable filler, allowing for localized heating to connect crossing points postoperatively, enhancing radial force and flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a radiation source is implanted in the prostate to treat cancer, then the therapeutic effect is improved, but the risk of infection and tissue damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The radiation source is enclosed within a protective capsule structure that nests multiple functional layers (radiation-emitting core, intermediate protective layers, and outer biocompatible shell). This nested design allows the radiation source to be contained within the implant while providing progressive protection against tissue damage and infection risks
Solution Approach 2:
A protective capsule acts as an intermediary barrier between the radiation source and the surrounding prostate tissue. This intermediary structure shields the tissue from direct radiation exposure and reduces the risk of infection while still allowing the radiation to effectively treat the cancer
2Reliability
If the implant structure is made more complex to protect the radiation source, then safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is divided into distinct functional segments: a radiation source component, a protective capsule with multiple protective layers, and a sealed housing. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall safety, and enables modular manufacturing and assembly procedures
3Ease of operation
If the implant is designed for easy assembly to reduce surgical time, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The radiation source and protective capsule are combined into a single integrated assembly unit that is pre-aligned and sealed together. This merging eliminates the need for complex intraoperative alignment procedures, allowing the entire assembly to be implanted as one unit while maintaining precise internal component positioning achieved during manufacturing
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The present invention relates to an implant (12) for implanting in a body, more particularly in a hollow organ or a vessel of a body, wherein the implant (12) is made of a filament (10) that has at least one polymer matrix material (14, 16) in which a magnetically heatable filler (18) is arranged, wherein the filament (10) has a cross section with a core/casing structure (20), wherein the core (22) has a first more particularly polymer matrix material (14) with a first melting point and wherein the casing (24) has a second polymer matrix material (16) with a second melting point, wherein the magnetically heatable filler (18) is present at least in the second matrix material (16), wherein the second melting point is lower than the first melting point, wherein the second melting point is in the range from ≥ 45 °C more particularly to ≤ 100 °C.