Repeat-Inflation Isolation Balloon for Radiotherapy Tissue Spacing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tissue isolation devices for tumor radiotherapy cause continuous compression of healthy tissues, leading to complications such as intestinal perforation and constipation, and fail to dynamically adjust isolation based on treatment needs during long-term radiotherapy courses.

Innovation Solution

A tissue isolation device with an isolation balloon that can be repeatedly inflated and deflated in vivo, maintaining a stable distance between healthy and target tissues during radiotherapy and returning to a deflated state post-treatment to minimize tissue compression.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a tissue isolation device is used to isolate healthy tissues from target tissues during radiotherapy, then radiation dose to healthy tissues is reduced, but continuous compression of healthy tissues causes complications such as intestinal perforation and constipation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveradiation dose to healthy tissuesVSAvoidtissue compression complications

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The isolation balloon is designed to be inflated and deflated periodically rather than maintained in a continuous inflated state. The balloon is inflated before radiotherapy to provide tissue isolation, deflated during breaks or non-radiation periods to relieve compression, and re-inflated before subsequent treatment sessions. This periodic action allows the system to alternate between providing radiation protection and relieving tissue compression, thereby reducing complications while maintaining therapeutic benefit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If an isolation balloon is inflated to maintain distance between healthy and target tissues, then radiation protection is achieved, but tissue compression and distraction increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveradiation dose to healthy tissuesVSAvoidtissue compression force

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The isolation balloon transitions from a static inflated state to a dynamic system that can be inflated and deflated based on treatment requirements. The balloon is inflated only when radiation protection is needed, maintaining the necessary distance between healthy and target tissues during treatment sessions. It is deflated when radiation protection is not required, thereby eliminating continuous tissue compression and distraction forces, achieving a dynamic balance between protection and comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a degradable hydrogel or hyaluronic acid is injected for tissue isolation, then physical isolation is formed to reduce radiation dose, but continuous compression of intestine occurs for 3-6 months causing intestinal perforation and constipation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveradiation dose to healthy tissuesVSAvoiddegradation cycle duration

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Unlike degradable hydrogels that provide continuous isolation for 3-6 months, the isolation balloon provides periodic isolation only during radiotherapy sessions. The balloon is inflated before treatment, maintains isolation during the treatment period, and is deflated afterward, allowing the tissue to return to its normal state. This periodic action eliminates the long-term continuous compression problem associated with degradable materials while maintaining effective radiation protection during treatment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

4Object-affected harmful factors

If an elliptical isolation instrument is used, then isolation function is provided, but positional movement occurs during tissue isolation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveradiation dose to healthy tissuesVSAvoidpositional stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The isolation balloon is designed with a spherical or rounded geometry rather than an elliptical shape. This spherical configuration provides more uniform contact with surrounding tissues and maintains better positional stability during tissue isolation. The curved, symmetrical shape allows the balloon to distribute forces more evenly and resist positional movement better than an elliptical instrument, while still providing effective radiation protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS20260097233A1Tissue isolation devices capable of repeated inflation and deflation in vivo

Publication Date: 2026.04.09 BEIJING QIFAN BOCHUANG MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY CO LTD

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a tissue isolation device capable of repeated inflation and deflation in vivo. The device includes: an isolation balloon arranged between healthy tissues and target tissues for a radiotherapy course, and the isolation balloon is removed from a body of a subject following the radiotherapy course. The isolation balloon is operable to assume an inflated state and a deflated state, the isolation balloon in the inflated state is used to isolate the healthy tissues and the target tissues. The isolation balloon includes a first contact surface and a second contact surface, under the inflated state, the first contact surface contacts the healthy tissues, and the second contact surface contacts the target tissues, a distance between the first contact surface and the second contact surface is in a preset range.