Skull repairing mesh plate
By using a cranial repair mesh made of PEEK and BCP composite materials, combined with an interwoven mesh structure of dense and loose areas and a microporous design, the defects of titanium alloy and traditional PEEK repair plates are solved, achieving osseointegration, stress buffering and improved stability.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2026-03-13
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-14
AI Technical Summary
Existing titanium alloy cranioplasty meshes suffer from stress shielding effects, hinder bone integration, produce artifacts, and cause patient discomfort. Furthermore, traditional PEEK repair plates exhibit poor structural uniformity and insufficient torsional and impact resistance.
The mesh plate body is made of a composite material of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP). The design incorporates a mesh structure with interlaced dense and loose areas, and features through and non-through micropores. The pore size and distribution are optimized to promote osseointegration and stress buffering.
It improves bone integration capacity, reduces stress shielding effect, reduces subcutaneous fluid accumulation, enhances mechanical properties, improves patient comfort and connection stability, and achieves biofusion with autologous bone.
Smart Images
Figure CN224112827U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the technical field of medical implants, specifically to a cranial repair mesh plate. Background Technology
[0002] Titanium alloys have long been widely used in the fabrication of cranioplasty meshes due to their excellent mechanical properties and good machinability. However, the elastic modulus of titanium alloy meshes is much higher than that of human bone, which can cause a "stress shielding" effect. This means the implant bears most of the stress, leading to the gradual absorption and atrophy of the underlying bone due to a lack of necessary mechanical stimulation, thus affecting long-term stability. Furthermore, as a good conductor, titanium can produce severe artifacts in postoperative computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, interfering with the monitoring of intracranial conditions. Additionally, some patients are sensitive to temperature changes and experience significant discomfort under sunlight.
[0003] Currently, polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is gradually becoming an important material for cranioplasty due to its elastic modulus being close to that of human bone, excellent biocompatibility, and radiopaqueness. However, existing PEEK cranioplasty plates are mostly solid structures, which have the following drawbacks: First, PEEK material itself is bioinert and cannot form a chemical or biological bond (osseointegration) with bone tissue. After implantation, it can only form a fibrous encapsulation, resulting in insufficient long-term torsional and impact resistance. Second, the lack of porosity hinders the ingrowth of new bone tissue, preventing the implant from achieving biofusion with autologous bone. Furthermore, pseudomembranes can easily form between the plate and tissue, leading to persistent subcutaneous effusion. Third, traditional PEEK repair plates have a uniform structure and poor mechanical properties. Utility Model Content
[0004] Therefore, in order to solve at least one of the above problems, this utility model provides a cranial repair mesh.
[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution provided by this utility model is as follows:
[0006] A cranioplasty mesh includes a mesh body having a curved shape adapted to the cranial defect area; the mesh body is made of a composite material of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP);
[0007] The main body of the mesh panel includes a dense region and a loose region, the porosity of the dense region being less than that of the loose region; two adjacent loose regions are separated by the dense region, and the dense regions are interwoven to form a mesh structure; the surface of the loose region is provided with a first micropore; the dense region is provided with a first through hole at intervals, and the first through hole is provided along the thickness of the main body of the mesh panel.
[0008] Optionally, the first micropore is a through-hole structure, with its two ends extending to the outer and inner surfaces of the main body of the mesh plate, respectively.
[0009] Optionally, the first micropore is a non-through-hole structure.
[0010] Optionally, the pore size of the first micropore is in the range of 300-600 μm.
[0011] Optionally, the porosity of the loose region is greater than 50%.
[0012] Optionally, within the dense region, the first through-hole is connected to a portion of the first micropores within the adjacent loose region via a microporous structure.
[0013] Optionally, the edge of the mesh plate body has a contact surface for engaging with the skull, and the loose area has a second micropore at the edge of the mesh plate body. The second micropore is a through-hole structure and is perpendicular to the contact surface.
[0014] Optionally, the pore size of the second micropore ranges from 300 to 600 μm.
[0015] Optionally, the dense region has a mesh structure, and the mesh shape is rhomboid, rectangular, or circular.
[0016] Optionally, the thickness of the mesh plate body at each location is adapted to the physiological thickness of each location in the human skull defect area.
[0017] The technical solution provided by this utility model has the following beneficial effects:
[0018] 1. The main body of the mesh plate is made of a composite material of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP), which can improve the osseointegration capacity of the mesh plate, promote new bone formation, and has good mechanical properties.
[0019] 2. Two adjacent loose regions are separated by dense regions, which form a mesh structure. The porosity of the dense regions is smaller than that of the loose regions, so the dense regions can be regarded as reinforcing ribs of the mesh structure, thus ensuring the structural strength of the entire mesh plate. The dense and loose regions are distributed alternately, and the elastic modulus of the entire mesh plate transitions smoothly in space. That is, the dense regions provide sufficient strength support, while the loose regions buffer stress through the microporous structure. This design makes the mechanical response of the mesh plate more similar to that of the natural skull, greatly reducing the stress shielding effect, protecting the surrounding bone tissue, and ensuring long-term stability.
[0020] 3. The design of the first micropore facilitates fluid diffusion and tissue ingrowth into the micropore structure. A small amount of subcutaneous fluid can diffuse into the first micropore and be absorbed by the tissue, preventing the formation of a pseudomembrane between the mesh and the tissue, which can lead to stubborn subcutaneous fluid accumulation. At the same time, it can also reduce the weight of the mesh body, achieving lightweight design, improving postoperative comfort for patients, and reducing the feeling of foreign body.
[0021] 4. The loose area has a second micropore at the edge of the main body of the mesh plate. The second micropore is perpendicular to the contact surface. This facilitates the ingrowth of blood vessels and bone tissue into the second micropore, further improving the osseointegration capacity of the main body of the mesh plate and ensuring the connection stability with the skull.
[0022] 5. The porosity of the loose region is greater than 50%, ensuring sufficient space for the growth of new tissue while maintaining the mechanical integrity of the loose region; the pore size range of the first and second micropores is 300-600μm, which is conducive to the ingrowth of blood vessels and bone tissue, providing nutrients and growth space for cells, and ultimately achieving the biofusion of the implant with autologous bone. Attached Figure Description
[0023] Figure 1 This is an overall schematic diagram showing the outer surface of the main body of the mesh panel in this embodiment;
[0024] Figure 2 This is an overall schematic diagram showing the inner surface of the main body of the mesh panel in this embodiment.
[0025] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 1. Main body of the mesh plate; 11. Contact surface; 2. Dense area; 21. First through hole; 3. Loose area; 31. First micropore; 32. Second micropore. Detailed Implementation
[0026] To further illustrate the various embodiments, the present invention provides accompanying drawings. These drawings are part of the disclosure of the present invention and are mainly used to illustrate the embodiments, and can be used in conjunction with the relevant descriptions in the specification to explain the operating principles of the embodiments. With reference to these drawings, those skilled in the art should be able to understand other possible implementations and the advantages of the present invention. Components in the drawings are not drawn to scale, and similar component symbols are generally used to represent similar components.
[0027] The present invention will now be further described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.
[0028] Reference Figure 1-2This embodiment provides a cranioplasty mesh plate, including a mesh plate body 1, which has a curved shape adapted to the cranial defect area. The mesh plate body 1 is made of a composite material of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP). PEEK is a widely used polymer material in the field of medical implants, with good mechanical properties and radiation permeability; BCP is a commonly used bioceramic material in the field of bone repair, with good osteoconductivity. This composite material is existing technology, and its use can improve the osseointegration capacity of the mesh plate body 1, promote new bone formation, and has good mechanical properties.
[0029] The mesh panel body 1 comprises dense regions 2 and porous regions 3, with the porosity of the dense regions 2 being lower than that of the porous regions 3. Adjacent porous regions 3 are separated by dense regions 2, which interweave to form a mesh structure. The dense regions 2 can be considered as reinforcing ribs of the mesh structure, thus ensuring the structural strength of the entire mesh panel body 1. Furthermore, the dense regions 2 and porous regions 3 are alternately distributed, resulting in a smooth spatial transition in the elastic modulus of the entire mesh panel body 1. That is, the dense regions 2 provide sufficient strength support, while the porous regions 3 buffer stress through their microporous structure. This design makes the mechanical response of the mesh panel body 1 closer to that of the natural skull, greatly reducing stress shielding effects, protecting surrounding bone tissue, and ensuring long-term stability.
[0030] The surface of the loose area 3 is provided with a first micropore 31, which is a micron-sized pore structure. The first micropore 31 facilitates liquid diffusion and tissue ingrowth into the micropore structure. A small amount of subcutaneous fluid can diffuse into the first micropore 31 and be absorbed by the tissue, preventing the formation of a pseudomembrane between the mesh plate and the tissue, which would lead to stubborn subcutaneous fluid accumulation. At the same time, it can also reduce the weight of the mesh plate body 1, achieve lightweighting, improve the patient's postoperative comfort, and reduce the feeling of foreign body.
[0031] The dense region 2 is provided with first through holes 21 spaced apart. The first through holes 21 are arranged along the thickness of the mesh body 1, which is conducive to the exchange and absorption of accumulated fluid and further reduces the incidence of subcutaneous fluid accumulation. The pore diameter of the first through hole 21 is larger than the pore diameter of the first micropore 31.
[0032] In this embodiment, the first micropore 31 is a through-hole structure, with its two ends extending to the outer and inner surfaces of the mesh plate body 1, respectively. That is, the first micropore 31 extends through the thickness direction of the mesh plate body 1, and the outer and inner surfaces are the opposite side walls of the mesh plate body 1 along its thickness direction. This facilitates the diffusion and exchange of fluid, reducing the incidence of subcutaneous effusion. In other embodiments, the first micropore 31 can also be a non-through-hole structure. Comparatively, a non-through-hole structure provides stronger mechanical strength than a through-hole structure, but its ability to diffuse and exchange fluid is weaker. Therefore, a through-hole structure for the first micropore 31 prioritizes the treatment of effusion in clinical applications; a non-through-hole structure prioritizes mechanical strength.
[0033] In this embodiment, the porosity of the loose region 3 is greater than 50%, ensuring sufficient space for the growth of new tissue while maintaining the mechanical integrity of the loose region 3. The pore size of the first micropore 31 ranges from 300 to 600 μm, which is conducive to the ingrowth of blood vessels and bone tissue. If the pore size is too small (e.g., <100 μm), cells cannot migrate in; if the pore size is too large (e.g., greater than 1000 μm), it affects the mechanical strength and is not conducive to cell attachment.
[0034] In this embodiment, the dense region 2 is connected to the first through hole 21 and part of the first micropore 31 in the adjacent loose region 3 through a microporous structure, which improves the liquid diffusion and exchange capacity, promotes the exchange of liquid inside and outside the mesh plate body 1, and reduces the incidence of subcutaneous fluid accumulation.
[0035] In this embodiment, the mesh plate body 1 has a contact surface 11 for bonding with the skull along its edge. The contact surface 11 is arranged in a curved annular shape along the edge of the mesh plate body 1, meaning that the dense region 2 and the loose region 3 together form the contact surface 11 at the edge of the mesh plate body 1. The loose region 3 has a second micropore 32 at the edge of the mesh plate body 1. The second micropore 32 is a through-hole structure and is perpendicular to the contact surface 11. This facilitates the ingrowth of blood vessels and bone tissue into the second micropore 32, further improving the osseointegration capacity of the mesh plate body 1 and ensuring the stability of the connection with the skull. Furthermore, the pore size range of the second micropore 32 is the same as that of the first micropore 31.
[0036] In this embodiment, the dense region 2 has a mesh structure with a rhomboid mesh shape; that is, the loose region 3 located within the mesh is rhomboid. In other embodiments, the mesh shape may also be rectangular or circular. Of course, the mesh shape is not limited to these and may also be other polygonal or irregular shapes.
[0037] In this embodiment, the thickness of the mesh plate body 1 at various locations is adapted to the physiological thickness of different locations in the human skull defect area, so that the elastic modulus of each region more closely matches the actual elastic modulus of the human skull. Specifically, the thickness distribution of the mesh plate body 1 can be personalized based on preoperative CT scan data, for example, the frontal bone region is thicker and the temporal bone region is thinner, to match the physiological thickness differences of the patient's skull. Those skilled in the art can obtain the thickness data of each location in the skull defect area through three-dimensional reconstruction and computer-aided design technology, and generate a three-dimensional model of the mesh plate body 1 accordingly.
[0038] Although the present invention has been specifically shown and described in conjunction with preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that various changes in form and detail may be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims, and all such changes shall be within the scope of protection of the present invention.
Claims
1. A cranial repair mesh, characterized in that: The device includes a mesh plate body having a curved shape adapted to the skull defect area; the mesh plate body is made of a composite material of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP); The main body of the mesh panel includes a dense region and a loose region, the porosity of the dense region being less than that of the loose region; two adjacent loose regions are separated by the dense region, and the dense regions are interwoven to form a mesh structure; the surface of the loose region is provided with a first micropore; the dense region is provided with a first through hole at intervals, and the first through hole is provided along the thickness of the main body of the mesh panel.
2. The cranioplasty mesh plate according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first micropore is a through-hole structure, with its two ends penetrating to the outer and inner surfaces of the main body of the mesh plate, respectively.
3. The cranial repair mesh plate according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first micropore is a non-through-hole structure.
4. A cranial repair mesh plate according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pore size of the first micropore ranges from 300 to 600 μm.
5. A cranial repair mesh plate according to claim 1, characterized in that: The porosity of the loose region is greater than 50%.
6. A cranial repair mesh plate according to claim 1, characterized in that: Within the dense region, the first through-hole is connected to a portion of the first micropores in the adjacent loose region via a microporous structure.
7. A cranial repair mesh plate according to claim 1, characterized in that: The mesh plate body has a contact surface along its edge for engagement with the skull. The loose area has a second micropore at the edge of the mesh plate body. The second micropore is a through-hole structure and is perpendicular to the contact surface.
8. A cranial repair mesh plate according to claim 7, characterized in that: The pore size of the second micropore ranges from 300 to 600 μm.
9. A cranial repair mesh plate according to claim 1, characterized in that: The dense region has a mesh structure, and the mesh shape is rhomboid, rectangular, or circular.
10. A cranial repair mesh plate according to claim 1, characterized in that: The thickness of the main body of the mesh plate is adapted to the physiological thickness of the various locations in the human skull defect area.