3D Printed Bilayer Tympanic Membrane Grafts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for repairing tympanic membrane perforations often require invasive surgeries and may not effectively replicate the acoustic and mechanical properties of natural tympanic membranes, leading to suboptimal healing and potential retraction issues.

Innovation Solution

The development of artificial tympanic membrane grafts using 3D printing technology, which creates scaffolds with ribs and infill materials to form bilayer devices that can be securely implanted to mimic the natural membrane's structure and function, including the use of biocompatible materials and growth factors to promote healing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional surgical methods are used to repair tympanic membrane perforations, then the repair can be performed with existing techniques, but the procedure is invasive and does not effectively replicate the acoustic and mechanical properties of natural tympanic membranes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehealing effectivenessVSAvoidinvasiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the graft material by using 3D printing to create a scaffold with specific porosity, elasticity, and acoustic properties that closely match natural tympanic membrane parameters, thereby improving healing effectiveness while maintaining minimal invasiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite materials consisting of a 3D printed scaffold structure combined with infill materials that replicate the layered architecture of natural tympanic membrane, providing both mechanical strength and acoustic functionality in a minimally invasive manner

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If traditional graft materials are used, then the surgical procedure is simpler, but the acoustic and mechanical properties are not effectively replicated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveacoustic property replicationVSAvoidgraft structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the tympanic membrane structure into a scaffold framework and infill regions, allowing independent optimization of each component's properties while maintaining overall structural integrity and acoustic functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by varying the density, porosity, and material composition in different regions of the graft to match the non-uniform properties of natural tympanic membrane, with stiffer regions at the periphery and more compliant regions centrally

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If 3D printing technology is used to create artificial tympanic membrane grafts, then the acoustic and mechanical properties are improved, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemembrane property replicationVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-designing and pre-printing the scaffold structure with optimized geometric parameters before implantation, allowing complex structures to be manufactured offline with high precision while simplifying the actual surgical implantation process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If bilayer graft devices with interlocking projections are used, then the resistance to retraction is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveretraction resistanceVSAvoidbilayer structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the nesting principle by placing one graft layer inside another with interlocking projections that fit into corresponding recesses, creating a nested bilayer structure that provides mechanical stability and retraction resistance while maintaining a compact form factor

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS11648106B2Artificial tympanic membrane devices and uses

Publication Date: 2023.05.16 PRESIDENT & FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE

AI summary

This disclosure features artificial tympanic membrane graft devices and two-component bilayer graft devices that include a scaffold having a plurality of ribs made of a first material and a plurality of spaces between the ribs filled or made with the first material, a different, second material, a combination of the first and a second materials, or a combination of a second material and one or more other different materials. The bilayer graft devices have two components or layers. One component, e.g., the underlay graft device, can include a projection, and the second component, e.g., the overlay graft device, can include an opening that corresponds to the projection (or vice versa) so that the opening and the projection can secure the two layers together in a “lock and key” manner. This disclosure also features methods of making, using, and implanting the three-dimensional artificial tympanic membrane and bilayer graft devices.