Stent with Chemically Fixed Polymer Particles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional stents coated with hydrogel polymers experience excessive swelling and strain, leading to peeling off of polymer particles when deformed, which compromises their stability and antithrombogenic properties.
Innovation Solution
Chemically fixing water-swellable polymer fine particles in a dispersed state on the stent surface, using a coupling agent for enhanced adhesion, prevents strain and peeling during expansion and deformation, while maintaining antithrombogenic properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the stent surface is entirely coated with hydrogel polymer, then the antithrombogenic properties are improved, but the polymer particles peel off when the stent is expanded or deformed
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous hydrogel polymer coating is segmented into discrete fine particles dispersed on the stent surface. This segmentation allows the polymer to maintain antithrombogenic properties while avoiding the strain concentration issues of a continuous coating during stent expansion and deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymer is transformed from a continuous state to a dispersed particulate state, changing the physical parameter of coverage continuity. This parameter change enables the polymer to swell and contract independently without generating excessive strain on the stent structure during expansion.
2Ease of operation
If the stent is expanded, then the stent functionality is improved, but strain is generated causing polymer particles to peel off
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the polymer coating into separate fine particles rather than a continuous layer, the expansion of the stent does not generate continuous strain across the polymer coating. Each particle can move or detach independently, preventing the peeling that occurs with continuous coatings.
Solution Approach 2:
A coupling agent is introduced as an intermediary substance between the stent surface and the polymer particles. This coupling agent enhances the adhesion between the stent and polymer, allowing the stent to be expanded without causing the polymer particles to peel off.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If hydrogel polymer is coated on the stent surface, then the thrombogenic reaction is reduced, but the polymer swells excessively in physiological environment
Solution Approach 1:
The polymer is divided into fine particles with limited individual swelling capacity. Even though each particle swells in the physiological environment, the dispersed arrangement prevents excessive overall volume increase compared to a continuous coating, maintaining stent functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymer's swelling behavior is controlled by changing it from a continuous state to a dispersed particulate state. This parameter change allows the polymer to absorb water and swell to provide antithrombogenic properties while limiting the total volume expansion that would compromise stent integrity.
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 solution effectively prevents breakage or peeling of polymer particles during stent expansion and deformation, ensuring durability and improved antithrombogenic properties by minimizing platelet adhesion.
Implementation Method 1
water-swellable polymer fine particles disposed on the stent would not peel off even when the stent is deformed or when the polymer fine particles are swollen
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of water-swellable polymer fine particles are chemically fixed on a surface of a base material of a stent in a dispersed state
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a stent wherein the water-swellable polymer fine particles applied thereto rarely peel off even when the stent is deformed or when the water-swellable polymer fine particles are swollen. A stent wherein a plurality of water-swellable polymer fine particles are chemically fixed on the stent surface in a dispersed state is provided.