Radiopaque Polymer Filaments for Targeted Embolization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies lack effective solutions for the controlled release of pharmaceutical agents directly to vascular sites and the occlusion of vascular sites or cavities within the body, such as tumors or arteriovenous malformations, while also ensuring minimal occlusion of vessel flow.
Innovation Solution
Development of polymer and hydrogel filaments that incorporate pharmaceutical agents, which can be entrapped or loaded during or after polymerization, and include visualization agents for imaging, allowing for controlled release and embolization with varying mechanical properties and degradation patterns to facilitate delivery through microcatheters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If polymer filaments are used for embolization to occlude vascular sites, then occlusion effectiveness is improved, but flow occlusion increases which may cause harmful effects
Solution Approach 1:
The polymer filament incorporates radiopaque segments with different iodine concentrations at different locations along its length. These segments have varying degrees of radiopacity and mechanical properties, allowing the filament to provide effective occlusion at the target site while maintaining different characteristics in other regions to minimize harmful flow occlusion effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The filament is constructed as a composite material system combining polymer base material with radiopaque contrast material (iodine). This composite structure enables the filament to simultaneously achieve embolization function, imaging visibility, and controlled mechanical properties including varying radiopacity along its length.
2Ease of manufacture
If radiopaque materials are added to polymer filaments for visualization, then imaging capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The radiopaque contrast material is merged directly into the polymer filament matrix during manufacturing. The iodine-containing segments are integrated within the polymer structure rather than being separate components, simplifying the overall device while maintaining imaging capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymer filament serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides embolization through occlusion, enables imaging through radiopacity, and maintains structural integrity for delivery. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate imaging components, thereby reducing device complexity.
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 filaments enable targeted and controlled delivery of pharmaceutical agents to specific sites within the body, providing effective occlusion and release mechanisms while minimizing flow occlusion, thus enhancing treatment efficacy and safety.
Implementation Method 1
the pharmaceutical agent can diffuse from the filament
Implementation Method 2
the pharmaceutical agent can be entrapped inside the polymers, loaded into the polymers after polymerization
Data Source
AI summary
Polymers are described herein comprising: a reaction product of a prepolymer solution including at least one macromer and at least one visualization agent; and an active agent electrostatically bound to the polymer filament or chemically bound to the at least one monomer; wherein the polymer filament does not include metallic support members.