Bio-absorbable End Members for Bone Implants
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bone implant devices with bone engaging surfaces often cause tissue cutting or tearing during insertion due to their design, making it difficult to position them correctly between adjacent bony portions.
Innovation Solution
The use of bio-absorbable end members that cover the bone engaging surfaces, providing a smooth surface profile to facilitate insertion and allowing the surfaces to engage the bone only after the end members have resorbed, ensuring secure positioning without initial tissue contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bone engaging surfaces are provided on the implant ends to secure the implant between adjacent bony portions, then the implant can be securely fixed in position, but the bone engaging surfaces cause undesired cutting or tearing of tissue during insertion
Solution Approach 1:
A smooth coating layer is applied to the bone engaging surfaces before insertion to prevent tissue damage. This preliminary protective action allows the implant to be inserted without cutting or tearing, and the coating is subsequently removed or degraded after positioning, enabling the bone engaging surfaces to function for secure fixation
Solution Approach 2:
A smooth coating material acts as an intermediary between the bone engaging surfaces and the surrounding tissue during insertion. This intermediary layer prevents direct harmful contact, allowing smooth passage through tissue, and is designed to be removable or degradable so that the underlying bone engaging surfaces can later engage the bone effectively
2Stability of the object's composition
If the implant body is inserted directly with bone engaging surfaces exposed, then the implant can engage the bone immediately for stability, but positioning becomes difficult due to tissue engagement resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The smooth coating is applied in advance to the implant surfaces to facilitate easy insertion. This preliminary protective measure reduces friction and tissue engagement during positioning, making insertion straightforward, and is removed or degraded after the implant is properly positioned to allow subsequent bone engagement for stability
3Ease of operation
If smooth surfaces are used on the implant ends to facilitate insertion, then the implant can be easily positioned between adjacent bony portions, but the implant cannot securely engage the bone without bone engaging surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
A smooth coating layer is temporarily applied to facilitate easy insertion, then removed or degraded after positioning. This preliminary smooth surface enables straightforward insertion, and its removal reveals the underlying bone engaging surfaces that provide secure bone engagement for reliable fixation
Solution Approach 2:
The surface properties of the implant are made dynamic, changing from smooth during insertion to engaging after positioning. The coating material is designed to be removable or degradable, allowing the surface characteristics to evolve: smooth initially for easy insertion, then transitioning to bone-engaging surfaces for secure fixation
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
Enables easier and less invasive placement of the implant by preventing initial contact between the bone engaging surfaces and tissue, allowing for stable bone fusion and healing without immediate resistance, and providing long-term support as the surfaces engage the bone post-degradation.
Implementation Method 1
resorbing the end member so the one end contacts the adjacent bony portion
Data Source
AI summary
A device for supporting adjacent bony portions includes a body having a first end and an opposite second end. The body is positionable in a space between the adjacent bony portions with the first and second ends oriented toward respective ones of the adjacent bony portions. At least one of the first and second ends includes bone engaging surfaces. An end member substantially covers the bone engaging surfaces with a bio-absorbable material on at least one end of the body. The end member providing a smooth surface profile to facilitate insertion of the body in the space between the adjacent bony portions.