Medical Devices
Improved Endovascular Aneurysm Occlusion Device
WARF: P08088US
Inventors: Kristyn Masters, Wendy Crone, Roham Moftakhar, Fangmin Xu, Beverly Aagaard-Kienitz
The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) is seeking commercial partners interested in developing a biocompatible aneurysm occlusion device that promotes wound healing events to improve patient outcomes.
Overview
Cerebral aneurysms develop when the wall of a cerebral artery or vein become weakened and the blood vessel begins to balloon. To avoid this type of complication, procedures have been developed to prevent subsequent growth and rupture of the aneurysm.
Typically, cerebral aneurysms are treated within the interior of the blood vessel by blocking the aneurysm with coils or intravascular injections. During coil embolization, metal components made from platinum (Pt) or nickel titanium (NiTi) are threaded through a catheter and deployed into the aneurysm. The aneurysm cavity is densely filled with coil loops that gradually form a collagen layer, isolating the aneurysm from blood flow to prevent rupture.
Many disadvantages are associated with the use of coils. The coils can compact over time, resulting in aneurysm exposure and subsequent rupture. The surgery can become cumbersome and further patient disease when multiple coils are required for complete aneurysm occlusion. And this approach doesn’t utilize growth factors to promote a positive biological response that may improve post-implant healing times.
Another common approach uses a liquid embolic agent that can harden over time via a cross-linking process. However, this method has many limitations that make it ineffective in treating aneurysms. The embolic agent can leak into the normal circulation pathway prior to solidification since there are no means to isolate or contain it to the damaged area. This leak can block normal blood vessel circulation, ultimately leading to a stroke. Further, the lack of containment makes it difficult to complete the injection into the aneurysm because the leading surface of the injected embolic liquid reacts and hardens too rapidly. Improved methods of treating aneurysms are needed.
Typically, cerebral aneurysms are treated within the interior of the blood vessel by blocking the aneurysm with coils or intravascular injections. During coil embolization, metal components made from platinum (Pt) or nickel titanium (NiTi) are threaded through a catheter and deployed into the aneurysm. The aneurysm cavity is densely filled with coil loops that gradually form a collagen layer, isolating the aneurysm from blood flow to prevent rupture.
Many disadvantages are associated with the use of coils. The coils can compact over time, resulting in aneurysm exposure and subsequent rupture. The surgery can become cumbersome and further patient disease when multiple coils are required for complete aneurysm occlusion. And this approach doesn’t utilize growth factors to promote a positive biological response that may improve post-implant healing times.
Another common approach uses a liquid embolic agent that can harden over time via a cross-linking process. However, this method has many limitations that make it ineffective in treating aneurysms. The embolic agent can leak into the normal circulation pathway prior to solidification since there are no means to isolate or contain it to the damaged area. This leak can block normal blood vessel circulation, ultimately leading to a stroke. Further, the lack of containment makes it difficult to complete the injection into the aneurysm because the leading surface of the injected embolic liquid reacts and hardens too rapidly. Improved methods of treating aneurysms are needed.
The Invention
UW-Madison researchers have developed an aneurysm occlusion device that consists of a polymeric shell, which is filled in situ with a liquid embolic agent. This polymeric shell addresses some of the shortcomings of previous methods by providing liquid embolic agent containment.
The polymer shell is composed of an elastic, hemocompatible, bioactive polyurethane-based material that stimulates blood vessel growth and native wound healing through the bioactive component. Upon delivery of the device in the aneurysm, the shell is filled with liquid embolic agents that gel/cross-link when mixed or stimulated. This containment approach allows a variety of liquid embolic agents to be used.
Once filled, the bioactive shell initiates a cascade of wound healing events to stimulate repair of the aneurysm, improving patient outcomes. This device should allow for more precise, controlled aneurysm occlusion, leading to a decrease in the mortality rate associated with cerebral aneurysm rupture.
The polymer shell is composed of an elastic, hemocompatible, bioactive polyurethane-based material that stimulates blood vessel growth and native wound healing through the bioactive component. Upon delivery of the device in the aneurysm, the shell is filled with liquid embolic agents that gel/cross-link when mixed or stimulated. This containment approach allows a variety of liquid embolic agents to be used.
Once filled, the bioactive shell initiates a cascade of wound healing events to stimulate repair of the aneurysm, improving patient outcomes. This device should allow for more precise, controlled aneurysm occlusion, leading to a decrease in the mortality rate associated with cerebral aneurysm rupture.
Applications
- Implantable device for the treatment of aneurysms
Key Benefits
- Overcomes dangerous leakage problems associated with current aneurysm occlusion devices
- Enables use of more types of embolic agents
- Compared to coil method, facilitates more precise delivery to the aneurysm region, thereby minimizing procedure time and associated risks to the patient while under general anesthesia
- Eliminates compaction over time to provide better occlusion, avoiding a possible rupture
Additional Information
For More Information About the Inventors
Tech Fields
For current licensing status, please contact Jeanine Burmania at [javascript protected email address] or 608-960-9846