Ventricular Stem Cell System for Neurodegenerative Disease Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for delivering stem cells and pharmaceuticals to treat neurodegenerative diseases face challenges such as irreversible neurological damage, painful bone marrow harvests, low stem cell frequencies, and inefficient delivery routes that often result in cells being trapped in lungs or causing cerebral lesions.
Innovation Solution
The Ventricular Stem Cell System involves using an implanted Ommaya reservoir or ventriculoperitoneal shunt to inject adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells or pharmaceuticals directly into the human ventricular system, allowing for safe and effective delivery of stem cells and therapeutic agents to treat neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and Multiple Sclerosis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If bone marrow is used as the source for stem cell harvest, then stem cells can be obtained, but the harvest process is painful and has low stem cell frequency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts stem cells from adipose tissue rather than bone marrow. The method involves harvesting adipose tissue through liposuction, processing it to isolate the stromal vascular fraction, and obtaining stem cells from this fraction. This extraction approach eliminates the need for painful bone marrow harvests while maintaining stem cell availability for therapeutic injection into the ventricular system.
2Reliability
If conventional delivery routes are used for stem cells, then stem cells can be delivered, but they are trapped in lungs or cause cerebral lesions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary delivery system consisting of an Ommaya reservoir or ventriculoperitoneal shunt that is implanted directly into the ventricular system. This intermediary device allows stem cells to be delivered directly to the target location (ventricles) rather than relying on conventional systemic delivery routes that cause cell trapping in lungs or cerebral lesions. The reservoir/shunt acts as a mediator that guides stem cells to the correct destination with high reliability.
3Productivity
If repeated injections are performed to treat neurodegenerative diseases, then therapeutic effects are enhanced, but the complexity of the delivery system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by implanting the Ommaya reservoir or ventriculoperitoneal shunt into the ventricular system before initiating repeated stem cell injections. This preliminary installation of the delivery system allows for multiple subsequent injection procedures without increasing overall system complexity. The reservoir/shunt is pre-positioned to facilitate easy, repeated access for therapeutic injections, thereby enhancing productivity while maintaining manageable device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
The METHODS, APPARATUSES AND SYSTEMS FOR INSTILLING STEM CELLS AND PHARMACEUTICALS INTO THE HUMAN VENTRICULAR SYSTEM (hereinafter “Ventricular Stem Cell System” or “VSCS”) disclosed herein provide safe and effective techniques for obtaining stem cells and instilling any type of stem cell or pharmaceutical agents into the human ventricular system for treatment of various diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Multiple Sclerosis, and others.