TMS Magnetic Field BBB Permeability TRIZ Case
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for delivering therapeutic agents to the brain are hindered by the blood-brain barrier (BBB), with invasive techniques causing damage and non-invasive methods like ultrasound and microbubbles risking permanent damage to the BBB and surrounding tissue.
Innovation Solution
Administering a magnetic material into the bloodstream and applying a magnetic field to a targeted region of the brain to facilitate the delivery of therapeutic agents by temporarily opening the BBB or increasing local perfusion, using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to affect the magnetic material and enhance the delivery of therapeutic agents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If invasive methods like needle injection are used to deliver therapeutic agents to the brain, then delivery effectiveness is improved, but tissue damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical needle injection with a magnetic field-based system. Magnetic particles are introduced into the bloodstream and guided to the target brain region using an external magnetic field, eliminating the need for physical penetration of the skull and brain tissue while achieving effective drug delivery to the target region.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses magnetic particles as intermediary carriers that can be introduced systemically into the bloodstream and then selectively concentrated at the target brain region through magnetic field guidance. These particles serve as mediators between the therapeutic agent and the target tissue, enabling non-invasive delivery while maintaining effectiveness.
2Productivity
If ultrasound and microbubbles are used to open the BBB, then therapeutic agent delivery is improved, but permanent damage to the BBB and surrounding tissue occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical and cavitation-based ultrasound method with a magnetic field-based approach. Instead of using acoustic pressure and microbubble cavitation to open the BBB, the system uses magnetic field-guided particles to achieve targeted delivery, thereby avoiding the damaging effects of ultrasound while maintaining delivery effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses magnetic particles as intermediaries that can be selectively accumulated at the target site through magnetic field guidance. These particles enable therapeutic agent delivery without requiring widespread BBB disruption, thus preserving BBB integrity while achieving localized delivery effectiveness.
3Ease of operation
If TMS is used to affect magnetic material for therapeutic delivery, then non-invasive targeted delivery is achieved, but the mechanism for opening BBB or increasing perfusion must be established
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the magnetic properties of introduced particles and applies external magnetic fields to change the physical state and distribution of these particles. By controlling magnetic field strength, gradient, and temporal characteristics, the system achieves non-invasive targeted delivery and can modulate BBB permeability or local perfusion through magnetic field-induced effects on the particles and surrounding tissue.
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
Improves the delivery of therapeutic agents to targeted brain regions by up to 200% and enhances therapeutic outcomes by selectively and safely opening the BBB or increasing perfusion, reducing damage risks compared to existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
A magnetic field is then applied to a targeted region of the patient's brain. The magnetic field is used to affect the magnetic material at the targeted region of the brain to facilitate delivery of the therapeutic agent to the brain at the targeted region
Implementation Method 2
it is known to perform transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of targeted regions of the brain by applying a magnetic field to the targeted region to cause electric current to flow in the targeted region of the brain via electromagnetic induction
Data Source
AI summary
The improvement of administration of a therapeutic agent to a targeted region of a patient's brain is herein described. A magnetic material, preferably soluble iron, is administered to the patient. A magnetic field, for example via transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), is applied to the targeted region of the patient's brain. The magnetic field is used to agitate magnetic material localized to the targeted region of the brain, temporarily forming openings in the blood-brain barrier (BBB), increasing local perfusion, or both at the targeted region. A therapeutic agent is administered to the patient and is delivered to the targeted region of the patient's brain through openings in the BBB, local perfusion, or both.