The Biomedical Device Laboratory develops a number of interventional devices based on shape memory polymers (SMPs). Novel polymers that are synthesized in the lab are incorporated into device designs, where the device functionality is characterized in terms of commercial and clinical feasibility.
The PDA is a connection between the aorta and pulmonary artery that normally closes shortly after birth. If the PDA remains open, it leads to complications, including heart failure and even death. Our PDA device prototype utilizes both shape memory alloys and SMPs to occlude the PDA and elicit a healing response within the vessel to promote closure and reduce complications.
The neurovascular embolization device comprises a SMP foam over a shape memory alloy coil for treatment of intracranial saccular aneurysms. The devices are compressed to enable delivery via microcatheter, after which the SMP foam expands to fill the aneurysm and serve as a scaffold for mature tissue healing. Current device development efforts are focused on ensuring tissue stability to reduce aneurysm rupture and improve long-term clinical outcomes.
The peripheral embolization device induces rapid, stable vessel occlusion for treatment of peripheral vascular diseases, such as pelvic congestion syndrome, gastric varices, endoleaks, varicoceles, traumatic hemorrhage, and vascular malformations. The SMP foam-based device can be compressed and delivered via microcatheter to the vessel of interest. Upon delivery, the device expands and anchors in the vessel to rapidly cut off blood flow and prevent complications from peripheral vascular diseases.
Long segment Congenital Tracheal Stenosis (CTS) is a rare birth defect that causes narrowing of the tracheal lumen. Our biosynthetic tracheal graft is made of extracellular matrix material derived from porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS-ECM) supported with a bioengineered resorbable exostent scaffold. The SIS-ECM component induces bio-integrative healing and remodeling into functional tracheal tissue while the exostent scaffold provides the biomechanical support to the remodeling trachea to prevent collapse and excessive deformation under the negative and positive pressure conditions during breathing while accommodating axial flexibility.