Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh have developed a biodegradable, flexible biocarpet endovascular device that can readily be deployed to a diseased peripheral vascular segment.
Description
The device can be rolled around a balloon catheter with such flexibility that it can be thermoformed to conform with the local complex geometry of the peripheral artery, minimizing vascular wall stress and improving access to previously challenging, smaller arterial sites, particularly in knee joints. The biocarpet can also be used for targeted delivery of medication to peripheral sites.
Applications
1. Peripheral arterial disease
2. Design of endovascular devices
3. Targeted drug delivery
Advantages
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) leads to the restriction of blood supply to leg muscles. It can impact over 6 million people in the US alone and in worst-case scenarios can lead to limb amputation. Current treatment options include rigid stents which may not always be suitable for the smaller arteries in the knee and are associated with high rates of restenosis (25–50%).
This medical device is expected to reduce the risk of restenosis in three key ways.
• Flexibility – can be used in smaller, previously untreatable, arteries and thermoformed in-situ to match the geometry of the peripheral artery and improving compatibility.
• Biodegradability – the device can disintegrate after treatment is completed.
• Drug eluting – the device can elute medication at a particular site.
Invention Readiness
In vitro testing has been carried out and pre-clinical trials have begun.
IP Status
https://patents.google.com/patent/US20230355848A1
