Stent Polymeric Nanostructure for Antithrombogenic Coating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical implants, such as stents, interfere with blood flow and integration into vessels, leading to clot formation and limited antithrombogenic substance release, necessitating a solution for long-term efficacy and better integration.

Innovation Solution

A medical implant with a tubular mesh structure featuring a polymeric nanostructure that enlarges the element surface, combined with an antithrombogenic coating, enhances the deposition of antithrombogenic substances and promotes endothelialization, using non-resorbable or resorbable polymers like polyurethane or polylactides, and incorporating fibrin and heparin for improved durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a stent is coated with antithrombogenic substances, then the risk of blood clot formation is reduced, but the release of the substance is time-limited and the long-term efficacy is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelong-term antithrombogenic efficacyVSAvoidduration of substance release

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention transitions from a two-dimensional flat coating to a three-dimensional nanofiber network structure. The nanofibers create a porous, volumetric matrix that increases the surface area and volume available for substance incorporation, enabling sustained release over longer periods while maintaining antithrombogenic efficacy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The nanofiber network forms a porous structure with interconnected voids and channels. This porous architecture allows for controlled diffusion and sustained release of antithrombogenic substances, extending the duration of action while maintaining the therapeutic effect over the long term.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

2Adaptability or versatility

If the stent mesh structure is used, then the stent can be deployed in vessels, but it influences blood flow and complicates integration into the natural blood vessel

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveintegration into blood vesselVSAvoidblood flow interference and clot formation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The nanofiber coating is applied locally to the stent surface, creating regions with different functional properties. The coating provides localized antithrombogenic protection at the blood-vessel interface while maintaining the structural integrity and mechanical properties of the stent framework itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The nanofiber network acts as an intermediary layer between the stent structure and the blood flow. This intermediate layer modifies the interaction between the implant and biological environment, reducing thrombogenicity and improving endothelialization while allowing the stent to maintain its structural function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If the element surface of mesh elements is enlarged with polymeric nanostructure, then more antithrombogenic substance can be deposited, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveamount of antithrombogenic substanceVSAvoidnanostructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electrospinning process is a self-organizing technique where charged polymer jets automatically form nanofibers through electrostatic forces. The system self-assembles the complex nanofiber network without requiring complex manufacturing equipment or multiple processing steps, achieving high surface area enrichment through a relatively simple single-step process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 enlarged surface area allows for increased antithrombogenic substance deposition, improving long-term efficacy and rapid integration into biological tissue, reducing clot formation and enhancing the implant's stability and therapeutic outcomes.

Implementation Method 1

a polymeric nanostructure is provided which is distributed over and adhered to the entire element surface of the mesh element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

an antithrombogenic coating is provided which extends over the structural surface of the mesh element enlarged by the polymeric nanostructure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCoating/Deposition: Deposition (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS20240366408A1Implant, more particularly stent, and method of production

Publication Date: 2024.11.07 ACANDIS GMBH & CO KG

AI summary

A medical implant, more particularly a stent, having a tubular lattice structure which can be transferred from a radially expanded compressed state to a radially compressed expanded state and has lattice elements that delimit the cells of the lattice structure and have an element surface. In order to enlarge the element surface of each lattice element a polymer nanostructure is distributed over the entire element surface of the lattice element and adheres to it, and an antithrombogenic coating is provided and extends across the lattice element structure surface enlarged by means of the polymer nanostructure.