Shape Memory Embolic Particles for High Packing Fraction Occlusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing embolic particles fail to achieve a high packing fraction, which is crucial for effective occlusion of fluid flow in body vessels, leading to incomplete or temporary blockages.
Innovation Solution
An embolization system comprising embolic particles made from shape memory materials with bimodal, tri-modal, or quad-modal particle diameter distributions that transition from a collapsed state to an expanded state, achieving a high packing fraction of at least 0.85, 0.90, or 0.95, respectively, to ensure complete occlusion of fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If embolic particles are delivered in a collapsed state with a bimodal, tri-modal, or quad-modal particle diameter distribution, then the particles can transition to an expanded state achieving a high packing fraction (at least 0.85, 0.90, or 0.95), but the device complexity increases due to the need to control and maintain specific particle size distributions and shape memory properties
Solution Approach 1:
The embolic particles utilize shape memory materials that undergo phase transitions between collapsed and expanded states based on temperature or other stimulus changes. This parameter change enables the particles to be delivered in a compact collapsed state and then expand to achieve high packing fraction (at least 0.85, 0.90, or 0.95) for reliable occlusion, resolving the contradiction between delivery efficiency and occlusion effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The embolization system employs a multimodal particle diameter distribution (bimodal, tri-modal, or quad-modal) where particles are segmented into different size categories. This segmentation allows for optimized packing efficiency while maintaining controllable delivery characteristics, achieving high packing fraction without excessive device complexity
2Reliability
If embolic particles are compacted together to achieve high packing fraction, then fluid flow occlusion is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase to ensure proper particle size distribution and packing characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The shape memory material undergoes controlled phase transitions that change particle volume and packing characteristics. By controlling the transition parameters (temperature, stimulus type), the system achieves high packing fraction (at least 0.85, 0.90, or 0.95) for reliable fluid flow occlusion without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances on individual particle dimensions
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs multimodal particle size distributions (bimodal, tri-modal, or quad-modal) where particles are segmented into different size categories. This segmentation strategy achieves high packing fraction by filling voids between particles of different sizes, reducing the manufacturing precision requirements compared to monodisperse systems
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 high packing fraction of embolic particles in the expanded state effectively occludes fluid flow through body vessels, providing a stable and permanent blockage suitable for treating conditions like aneurysms and hemorrhaging.
Implementation Method 1
embolic particles made from a shape memory material that exhibit both a collapsed state and an expanded state
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B~1C
Figure 2A
AI summary
An embolization system having a high packing fraction of embolic particles for use in occluding the flow of body fluid through a body vessel and a method for using such an embolization system are described. The embolic particles, which are made from a shape memory material, exhibit both a collapsed state and an expanded state. The embolic particles exhibit at least a bimodal particle diameter distribution in the collapsed state and expanded state with a particle packing fraction of at least about 0.85. The mixture of embolic particles is delivered into the body vessel in the collapsed state. The particle packing fraction of the mixture in its expanded state causes the occlusion of the flow of body fluid through the body vessel.