Bacterial Cellulose Implant Embedding Support Structure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for producing implants require surgical sutures, which are labor-intensive, prone to human error, and create weak points, limiting the minimal size of implants that can be produced due to the need for manual knotting and space requirements.

Innovation Solution

The use of a support structure embedded in a functional element made of bacterial cellulose, allowing for a sutureless connection and enabling the functional element to deviate from the support structure's shape, facilitating independent movement and simplifying the manufacturing process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If surgical sutures are used to connect tissue parts to support structures, then the implant can be assembled, but the process becomes labor-intensive and expensive with potential human errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of connectionVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure and functional element are merged into a single integrated component where the support structure is embedded within the functional element made of bacterial cellulose, eliminating the need for separate suturing operations and manual assembly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The bacterial cellulose material inherently provides self-adhesive properties and structural integration, allowing the support structure to be automatically embedded and secured without requiring external suturing tools or manual knot-tying operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of manufacture

If surgical sutures with knots are used, then connection is achieved, but knots create weak points that concentrate forces and reduce reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection methodVSAvoidstructural strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The problematic knotting operation is completely removed from the connection process. Instead of using sutures that require knots, the support structure is directly embedded within the functional element, eliminating knots and their associated weak points entirely

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The implant uses a composite structure where the support structure (one material) is embedded within the functional element made of bacterial cellulose (another material), creating an integrated composite component that distributes forces uniformly without stress concentration points

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Ease of manufacture

If surgical sutures with space requirements are used, then connection is possible, but the minimal size of implants is limited to a few millimetres

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly capabilityVSAvoidimplant size

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure and functional element are combined into a single integrated unit, eliminating the additional space required for separate sutures and knots, thereby enabling miniaturization of the implant to dimensions below a few millimetres

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The bacterial cellulose material provides inherent structural integration and self-adhesion properties, eliminating the need for external suturing components and their associated space requirements, allowing for ultra-miniaturized implant designs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

This approach eliminates the need for surgical sutures, reduces manufacturing costs, and enables the production of smaller implants with enhanced mechanical strength and flexibility, allowing for more complex and functional designs, such as heart valve prostheses with improved mechanical load resistance and reduced risk of degradation.

Implementation Method 1

providing a three-dimensional mould (10) of the functional element (3); positioning the mould (10) relative to the support structure (2); placing the mould (10) and the support structure (2) under conditions conducive to growing bacterial cellulose on and/or in the mould (10) so as to form the functional element (3) and so as to embed at least a part of the support structure (2) in at least a part of the functional element (3)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBacterial cellulose deposition: Deposition (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP3572043B1Medical implant with seamlessly connected bacterial cellulose

Publication Date: 2023.08.16 BIOTRONIK AG

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AI summary

The invention relates to an implant, comprising: a support structure (e.g. alloplastic) such as a stent or a scaffold, and a functional element (e.g. a heart valve) comprising or made of bacterial cellulose, wherein according to the present invention, at least a part of the support structure is embedded in the functional element or in an extension thereof so as to connect the functional element to the structural element via positive fit.