Submucosal Bioresorbable Implant for Sustained Local Steroid Delivery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and allergic rhinitis (AR) often involve invasive surgeries or systemic steroid therapies that are not durable, have limited efficacy, and require patient compliance, leading to undesirable side effects and transient relief.
Innovation Solution
An implantable bioresorbable drug delivery platform designed for localized and sustained delivery of therapeutic agents, such as corticosteroids, to target tissues in the ear, nose, and throat, minimizing invasiveness and ensuring consistent drug release over extended periods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If surgical procedures such as FESS are performed to treat CRS, then sinus anatomy is mechanically altered to provide relief, but tissue trauma occurs and recovery requires further procedures or revision surgery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the therapeutic agent delivery function from invasive surgical procedures and delivers it through a minimally invasive implantable device. The bioresorbable platform is inserted submucosally to deliver steroids locally, eliminating the need for traumatic FESS surgery while providing durable treatment through sustained drug release over months to years.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-loading the bioresorbable platform with therapeutic steroids before implantation. The platform is prepared in advance with a controlled-release formulation that begins delivering medication immediately upon insertion, providing preventive treatment before severe tissue damage or polyp formation occurs, rather than reacting after surgery is needed.
2Reliability
If systemic steroid therapies are used to treat CRS and AR, then inflammation is reduced, but undesirable side effects occur due to systemic impact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating the steroid delivery at the specific site of inflammation through the implantable bioresorbable platform. The platform releases therapeutic agents locally in the sinus or nasal tissue rather than distributing steroids systemically throughout the body, thereby controlling inflammation effectively while minimizing harmful systemic side effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The bioresorbable platform serves as an intermediary device between the administered steroid and the target tissue. Instead of systemic circulation directly delivering steroids to the site of action, the platform acts as a localized reservoir and release mechanism, controlling drug delivery to the specific inflamed area while preventing widespread systemic absorption and associated side effects.
3Duration of action of moving object
If nasal sprays or topical applications are used for AR, then symptoms provide transient relief, but patient compliance is required and duration is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by loading the bioresorbable platform with a sustained-release formulation of therapeutic agents before implantation. Once inserted, the platform automatically releases medication over an extended period (months to years) without requiring patient intervention, eliminating the need for ongoing compliance with daily nasal spray applications while providing long-term symptom relief.
Solution Approach 2:
The implantable bioresorbable platform provides self-service by automatically delivering therapeutic agents through controlled degradation and diffusion over time. The system requires no patient action after initial insertion, as the platform self-regulates drug release based on its material properties, thereby eliminating compliance requirements associated with repeated manual applications of nasal sprays or topical medications.
4Reliability
If immunotherapy regimens are used to treat AR, then long-term effectiveness is achieved, but weeks or months are required to complete and symptoms persist during treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-formulating and pre-loading the bioresorbable platform with therapeutic agents that provide immediate and sustained relief. This eliminates the delayed onset characteristic of immunotherapy regimens, as the platform begins delivering active medication upon insertion, providing both immediate symptom relief and long-term effectiveness without the weeks or months of treatment required for immunotherapy to take effect.
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
Provides long-term symptom relief with reduced systemic side effects and improved patient compliance by maintaining therapeutic concentrations of drugs in target tissues, offering a safer and more effective alternative to traditional treatments.
Implementation Method 1
a bioresorbable platform having a size and form factor appropriate for implantation into the target tissues
Implementation Method 2
the platform being embedded, coated, and/or infused with a therapeutic agent such as a drug or biologic... a clinically meaningful dosage of the therapeutic agent is locally released into the target tissue
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for delivering a therapeutic agent to target tissue using a plurality of drug delivery platforms each having the therapeutic drug embedded as part of the drug delivery platform. Each drug delivery platform is implanted into a target tissue, and the active agent elutes out of the drug delivery platform for a target period of time, delivering a therapeutic dose of the drug for that period of time. The duration of therapy for an implant can be from 3 to 12 months, longer, or shorter.