Spinal Multisegmental Cell Delivery via Segmented Stepping Needle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current drug and cell delivery systems for the spinal cord require multiple vertical injections, leading to mechanical trauma and uneven distribution of substances due to bending injection cannulas and lack of controlled deposition in a single plane.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a guide needle with a 45-degree bend and a computer-controlled injection needle advanced and withdrawn using a stepping motor for multisegmental delivery, allowing for a single vertical puncture to deliver substances to multiple spinal segments while maintaining a fixed angle for homogeneous distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple vertical spinal cord injections are used to deliver cells into multiple spinal cord segments, then cell delivery coverage is improved, but the risk of mechanical trauma and secondary spinal cord injury increases
Solution Approach 1:
The injection needle is segmented into multiple injection ports (e.g., 3-5 ports) spaced at specific intervals (e.g., 2-5 mm apart) along its length. Each port can deliver cells to a different spinal cord segment, allowing multi-segmental coverage through a single puncture site rather than requiring multiple separate injections
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible injection needle is nested within a rigid guide needle. The guide needle provides structural support and maintains the injection angle, while the flexible injection needle contains multiple injection ports and can be advanced to deliver cells through a single puncture site to multiple spinal cord segments
2Adaptability or versatility
If plastic injection cannulas are used for brain injections, then flexibility is improved, but the ability to maintain a specific angle and deposit in a single plane is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible injection needle is nested within a rigid guide needle. The guide needle maintains a specific injection angle (e.g., 45 degrees) relative to the spinal cord surface, while the flexible injection needle can still be advanced and repositioned within the guide needle to achieve precise cell delivery to target segments
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the injection system have different properties: the guide needle is rigid to maintain angle precision, while the injection needle is flexible to allow advancement and adaptation. The injection ports are positioned at specific locations along the needle to enable targeted delivery to different segments
3Quantity of substance
If multiple vertical injection sites are used to deliver substrate to multiple spinal segments, then delivery coverage is improved, but the number of injection sites and complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The injection needle is divided into multiple injection ports (e.g., 3-5 ports) spaced at specific intervals along its length. Each port can deliver substrate to a different spinal cord segment, enabling multi-segmental coverage through a single puncture site
Solution Approach 2:
The injection needle serves multiple functions: it acts as both a structural element maintained by the guide needle and a delivery vehicle with multiple ports for different segments. This multi-functional design reduces the number of separate injection sites needed while maintaining comprehensive coverage
Data Source
AI summary
Delivery devices and methods related thereto may be used in humans for spinal delivery of cells, drugs or vectors. The patient population may include patients with spinal traumatic injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, spinal ischemia and any other spinal neurodegenerative disorders which will require spinal cell, vector or drug delivery. Unlike conventional methods which require multiple injection sites to make multiple, localized substrate deliveries, the delivery devices and methods of the present invention may allow for multiple substrate delivery locations with homogeneous substrate delivery with a single injection site.