ACL Scaffold Device for Ligament Regeneration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for repairing ruptured anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL) fail to promote effective healing due to the inhibitory effects of synovial fluid, leading to premature loss of fibrin clots and joint deterioration, resulting in high rates of osteoarthritis in young athletes.
Innovation Solution
A scaffold device with an anchor and suture is used to facilitate ACL regeneration, where the scaffold can be made of bioabsorbable or synthetic materials, such as polyglactin 910, and is designed to absorb plasma or blood, promoting vascularization and cell migration, and can be pretreated with repair materials like collagen or hydrogels to enhance healing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional ACL reconstruction with tendon graft is performed, then gross stability is initially restored, but long-term structural laxity and joint deterioration occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by placing a fibrin clot scaffold at the ligament rupture site before the natural healing process can occur. This pre-established scaffold provides a structured framework that guides subsequent tissue regeneration, preventing the formation of unstable scar tissue and ensuring proper ligament architecture from the outset.
Solution Approach 2:
The fibrin clot acts as an intermediary substance between the ruptured ligament ends and the surrounding tissue environment. It mediates the healing process by providing a temporary structural bridge that facilitates cell migration and tissue regeneration while protecting the repair site from synovial fluid interference.
2Reliability
If fibrin clot is formed in synovial joint, then initial tissue connection is achieved, but synovial fluid causes premature clot lysis and healing disruption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by creating a protected microenvironment within the fibrin clot scaffold that shields the healing tissue from the harmful fibrinolytic effects of synovial fluid. The scaffold structure provides this protective cushioning in advance, allowing the clot to maintain its integrity longer and support sustained healing.
Solution Approach 2:
The fibrin clot scaffold creates an inert environment at the repair site by physically isolating the healing tissue from synovial fluid. This inert microenvironment prevents premature fibrinolysis and allows the clot to persist long enough to facilitate complete ligament regeneration.
3Strength
If point-to-point tendon graft reconstruction is performed, then gross stability is restored, but abnormal structural laxity develops over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing enhanced structural support specifically at the ligament rupture site through the fibrin clot scaffold, rather than relying on general tendon graft strength. This localized reinforcement ensures proper tissue alignment and gradual load transfer, maintaining structural integrity while allowing physiological remodeling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by enabling progressive structural development from the initial fibrin clot scaffold to mature ligament tissue. The scaffold provides initial stability that dynamically transitions as new tissue forms, allowing the structure to adapt and strengthen over time rather than remaining statically dependent on the graft alone.
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 scaffold device supports the regeneration of ACL by maintaining ligament integrity, improving biomechanical properties, and reducing the risk of osteoarthritis by promoting vascularized tissue formation and scar tissue development, outperforming traditional reconstruction methods.
Implementation Method 1
The scaffold can be made of bioabsorbable or synthetic materials, such as polyglactin 910, and is designed to absorb plasma or blood, promoting vascularization and cell migration
Implementation Method 2
The repair material in some embodiments is collagen. A method of repairing a ruptured ligament that involves drilling a hole near a repair site of a ruptured ligament, attaching a suture to the bone through the hole, and attaching a scaffold to the suture to secure the scaffold between the bone and an end of the ruptured ligament
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and devices for the repair of a ruptured ligament using a scaffold device are provided. Aspects of the invention, may include a scaffold attached by a suture to an anchor. In aspects of the invention, the anchor may be secured to a bone near or at the repair site.