Wave-Pattern Sphincter Implant for Migration-Resistant Constriction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Body tissue sphincters often lose the ability to maintain constriction of natural body passages, leading to issues such as incontinence and reflux, necessitating medical interventions like medications or surgeries.
Innovation Solution
An implantable device with an elastic annular wire structure featuring a wave pattern and optional coating to promote scar tissue growth, designed to conform to body sphincters and enhance their constriction function, reducing migration and enhancing physiological functioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an elastic annular wire structure is used to maintain constriction of body passages, then the ability to prevent unintended passage is improved, but the device may migrate or fail to maintain physiological integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The device promotes scar tissue growth at the implantation site before the sphincter muscle fully recovers function. This preliminary action of creating fibrous anchoring tissue prevents device migration while the elastic wire structure maintains constriction pressure on the body passage.
Solution Approach 2:
The device combines an elastic wire structure with a coating that promotes scar tissue formation. This composite approach integrates the mechanical constriction function of the elastic wire with the biological anchoring function of the scar-promoting coating, simultaneously addressing both constriction maintenance and migration prevention.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the wire structure is made highly elastic to accommodate body movement, then adaptability is improved, but the ability to maintain sufficient constriction pressure deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The wire structure's geometric parameters are configured to create a wave pattern that provides inherent mechanical resistance. This wave pattern allows the device to stretch and conform to body movements while the wave geometry itself generates restoring force that maintains constriction pressure on the sphincter.
Solution Approach 2:
The wave pattern introduces curved geometries into the wire structure. These curves provide mechanical advantage by creating zones of high and low stress that allow the device to flex with body movement while maintaining overall constriction force through the elastic recovery of the waved configuration.
3Reliability
If a coating is applied to promote scar tissue growth, then device anchoring is improved, but the complexity of manufacturing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coating parameters are optimized to use commercially available materials and application methods. The coating composition and thickness are controlled within ranges that can be achieved through standard medical device manufacturing techniques, balancing scar promotion effectiveness with manufacturing feasibility.
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 supports sphincter function by promoting scar tissue growth, reducing migration, and maintaining physiological integrity, thereby preventing unintended passage of materials.
Implementation Method 1
The wire structure may be elastic so as to provide a pressure around the body tissue structure such that the pressure changes with movement of the body tissue structure
Implementation Method 2
the wire structure may be at least partially encapsulated by a coating wherein the coating may promote growth of scar tissue around the body tissue structure
Data Source
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AI summary
A medical device may include an implantable device for treating a body tissue structure. The implantable device may include a wire structure which may include a wave pattern. The wire structure may be elastic so as to provide a pressure around the body tissue structure such that the pressure may change with movement of the body tissue structure.