Barbed Microneedle Cardiac Patch for Suture-Free Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cardiac patch implantation methods, such as suturing and adhesives, face challenges like complex surgical procedures, large trauma, susceptibility to postoperative complications, and long recovery times, as well as issues with firm fixation and patch slippage.
Innovation Solution
A suture-free coagulation-assisted fixed cardiac patch is developed, featuring a polymeric procoagulant base with barbed microneedles and a microporous structure on one side. This design allows for self-locking fixation and enhanced coagulation and adhesion, eliminating the need for sutures during implantation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If suture fixation method is used for cardiac patch implantation, then reliable fixation is achieved, but surgical complexity increases and trauma is enlarged
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the fixation function from the surgical procedure by integrating barbed microneedles directly into the cardiac patch structure. The microneedles with barbs enable self-fixation upon implantation, eliminating the need for separate suture fixation steps and reducing surgical complexity while maintaining reliable attachment to the myocardium.
Solution Approach 2:
The cardiac patch with barbed microneedles performs self-fixation automatically upon implantation. The barbed structure engages with the myocardial tissue to provide secure anchoring without requiring external suturing operations, thereby simplifying the surgical procedure while ensuring reliable fixation.
2Device complexity
If adhesive fixation method is used for cardiac patch implantation, then surgical procedure is simplified, but fixation firmness decreases and patch slippage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines the adhesive polymeric base material with mechanical barbed microneedles to create a composite fixation system. The adhesive provides initial bonding and simplifies implantation, while the barbed microneedles provide mechanical interlocking to prevent slippage, achieving both surgical simplicity and fixation firmness.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges adhesive bonding and mechanical interlocking mechanisms into a single integrated cardiac patch structure. The polymeric base with adhesive properties works synergistically with the barbed microneedles, combining the advantages of both fixation methods to achieve firm attachment without patch slippage while maintaining simplified surgical procedure.
3Ease of manufacture
If smooth patch base is used, then manufacturing is simplified, but coagulation and adhesion functions are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies microporous structure locally on the patch base surface rather than throughout the entire structure. This localized modification enhances coagulation and adhesion functions at the myocardial interface while maintaining the simplicity of manufacturing the bulk polymeric base material.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention incorporates microporous structures on the patch base surface to enhance coagulation and adhesion performance. The porous morphology increases surface area and promotes blood coagulation, improving fixation reliability without significantly complicating the manufacturing process of the polymeric base.
4Strength
If barbed microneedles with high density are used, then fixation strength is improved, but stress concentration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a moderate density of barbed microneedles rather than maximum possible density. This partial action approach provides sufficient fixation strength through the barbed engagement with myocardium while distributing stress across multiple anchoring points, avoiding the stress concentration that would occur with overly dense microneedle arrangements.
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 cardiac patch achieves effective suture-free fixation, reduces postoperative complications, and provides enhanced mechanical support and therapeutic effects by promoting uniform stress distribution and accelerated coagulation, thus improving cardiac repair outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
uses the microporous structure of the patch base to promote coagulation reaction to fix the myocardium and the patch
Implementation Method 2
achieving suture-free fixation of the patch through the self-locking effect of the barbed structure
Data Source
AI summary
A suture-free coagulation-assisted fixed cardiac patch and fabrication method thereof are provided. The cardiac patch includes a polymeric procoagulant base and a barbed microneedle fixed on the polymeric procoagulant base, and a side surface of the polymeric procoagulant base with the microneedle has a microporous structure which does not penetrate the solid base of the polymer; an included angle α between the microneedle and the plane where the polymeric procoagulant base located is 60-90°, and the microneedles are evenly distributed on the polymeric procoagulant base at a density of 5-50 threads/cm2; the barbs are located on the curved surface of the microneedle and are inclined toward the polymeric procoagulant base. The fabrication method includes using a mold pore-forming, a porogen pore-forming, or a thermally induced phase separation pore-forming, and combining the barbed microneedle while forming the microporous structure to obtain a suture-free coagulation-assisted fixed cardiac patch.