Vascular Tone Modulating Device for Spasm Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vascular spasm during medical procedures, such as catheterization, can cause blood vessel closure and complications like blood clot formation, which are difficult to manage with existing methods like medication or angioplasty, risking damage to the blood vessel wall.
Innovation Solution
A vascular tone modulating device that uses electric impulses to stimulate the endothelial layer of blood vessels, releasing nitric oxide and relaxing smooth muscle cells, thereby avoiding or reducing the need for medications or angioplasty devices, and minimizing the risk of blood vessel wall perforation or dissection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If medications or angioplasty devices are used to treat vasospasm, then the blood vessel can be opened, but the risk of blood vessel wall perforation or dissection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical angioplasty devices with an electrical stimulation system. The device uses electrical impulses delivered through electrodes to stimulate the endothelial layer, triggering nitric oxide release and smooth muscle relaxation, thereby eliminating the need for mechanical balloon inflation that causes vessel wall trauma
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces nitric oxide as an intermediary substance. Electrical stimulation acts on the endothelial layer to release nitric oxide, which then mediates the relaxation of smooth muscle cells, providing an indirect and gentle mechanism for vasodilation that avoids direct mechanical trauma to the vessel wall
2Ease of operation
If intra-arterial lidocaine or nicardipine injection is used, then vasospasm can be relieved, but the complexity of the procedure increases due to multiple interventions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single device: the catheter itself serves as both the delivery system and the stimulation device through integrated electrodes. This single device performs what previously required separate medication delivery and mechanical intervention steps, simplifying the overall procedure
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a diagnostic/imaging tool and as a therapeutic electrical stimulation device. The same catheter structure delivers electrical impulses through its electrodes, eliminating the need for separate therapeutic devices or multiple intervention steps
3Productivity
If angioplasty balloons or dilating devices are used, then blood vessel closure can be opened, but damage to surrounding blood vessel tissue occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical balloon inflation with electrical stimulation to achieve vasodilation. The electrical impulses trigger biochemical pathways (nitric oxide release) that cause smooth muscle relaxation, achieving the same productivity of opening the vessel without the mechanical trauma caused by balloons
Solution Approach 2:
The device leverages the body's own physiological mechanisms to achieve vasodilation. By stimulating the endothelial layer to release nitric oxide, the body's natural relaxation pathways are activated, eliminating the need for external mechanical force that causes tissue damage
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 device effectively recanalizes spastic blood vessels, reducing the risk of damage and complications associated with traditional methods, by inducing electrical signals to relax smooth muscle cells and promote vasodilation or vasoconstriction as needed.
Implementation Method 1
The electric circuit may be activated by a user pressing a button located on the connecting hub to induce an electric current to a target tissue
Data Source
AI summary
A vascular tone modulating device for controlling the tension and diameter of blood vessels includes modulating member, a supporting structure, a stimulation circuit and a conductive pathway. The modulating member includes at least one electrode and the supporting structure supports the modulating member within a blood vessel. The conductive pathway extends along the supporting structure and electrically connects the stimulation circuit and the modulating member and the vascular tone modulating device is of a stand-alone configuration.