Controlled Release Device for Spinal Disc Hydration Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for bulging or herniated intervertebral discs, such as chemonucleolytic injections and solid matrix implants, often lead to complications like nerve pinching and excessive nucleus pulposus degradation, and lack a less invasive solution for maintaining disc health.
Innovation Solution
A controlled release device with reservoirs and valves that respond to tissue conditions, releasing agents like degrading or regenerating agents based on pressure and hydration levels within the intervertebral disc to manage nucleus pulposus hydration and reduce pain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chemonucleolytic agents are injected to dissolve nucleus pulposus, then the herniated portion is drawn back to center, but the agents can leak into sensitive regions causing medical complications
Solution Approach 1:
A solid matrix acts as an intermediary carrier that delivers chemonucleolytic agents directly to the nucleus pulposus while preventing leakage into surrounding sensitive regions. The matrix provides localized containment and controlled release of the agents at the target site.
Solution Approach 2:
The solid matrix utilizes a porous structure that allows controlled diffusion of chemonucleolytic agents into the nucleus pulposus while maintaining physical containment. The porosity enables agent delivery without requiring injection that could cause leakage into adjacent regions.
2Duration of action of moving object
If solid matrices with chemonucleolytic agents are implanted, then the agents are released slowly, but excessive degradation of nucleus pulposus occurs resulting in nerve pinching
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the release of chemonucleolytic agents is monitored and regulated based on the condition of the nucleus pulposus. This prevents excessive degradation by adjusting the release rate to match the actual needs of the tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
The solid matrix utilizes changes in physical or chemical parameters (such as pH, enzyme concentration, or matrix degradation rate) to control the release profile of chemonucleolytic agents. This ensures adequate release duration while preventing excessive degradation that could harm surrounding nerves.
3Reliability
If disc replacement implant is used, then disc function is restored, but the procedure is highly invasive
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of removing the entire disc and replacing it with an implant, the invention extracts only the degraded or herniated portion of the nucleus pulposus using chemonucleolytic agents. This minimally invasive approach preserves the natural disc structure and surrounding tissues while restoring disc function.
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than replacing the disc with an artificial implant, the invention uses the body's own biological processes (enzymatic degradation) to remove problematic disc material. This inverts the traditional surgical approach by using biochemical rather than mechanical means to achieve disc repair.
Data Source
AI summary
A device includes a first reservoir configured to include a degrading agent, a first valve in fluid communication with the first reservoir, and a reservoir driver configured to manipulate the first reservoir to effect a first reservoir condition based on a first tissue condition. The first valve is configured to open in response to the first reservoir condition associated with the first reservoir.