Bioabsorbable Implant with Encapsulated Additives for Accelerated Degradation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bioabsorbable medical devices lack the ability to achieve accelerated degradation after fulfilling their functional purpose, necessitating additional surgical interventions for removal and potentially causing tissue stress during healing.
Innovation Solution
Development of medical devices with composite structures comprising biodegradable and bioabsorbable materials, including blends, coatings, or layers, with encapsulated degradation additives that accelerate mass loss, allowing for controlled release of therapeutic agents and radiopaque agents, enabling accelerated degradation post-functional life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If biodegradable polymers are used to eliminate the need for second surgery, then the device can be absorbed by the body, but the degradation rate is too slow and requires additional surgical intervention for removal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates degradation accelerators into the polymer structure before implantation. These accelerators are released in a controlled manner during the device's functional life, proactively speeding up the degradation process at the optimal time (after functional effect is achieved) without requiring external intervention or second surgery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the polymer by incorporating hydrolytically unstable groups and degradation accelerator compounds. This changes the degradation kinetics from slow natural hydrolysis to accelerated degradation through chemical catalysis, allowing the device to transition from stable during function to rapidly degradable after function.
2Strength
If the implant is made rigid to support the bone during healing, then the bone can be fixated, but the bone cannot carry sufficient load and may suffer refracture upon removal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamic implant that transitions from rigid to flexible/degradable. The device maintains rigid strength during the healing period through its structural design and material properties, then dynamically transitions to accelerated degradation mode after achieving its functional purpose, allowing load transfer to the healing bone and eliminating the need for removal surgery.
Solution Approach 2:
The degradation accelerators are built into the device structure in advance, ready to activate after the functional period. This preliminary preparation allows the device to automatically transition from load-bearing rigid structure to degradable material without requiring external intervention or causing sudden structural failure.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the device degrades slowly over time, then the structure remains stable, but accelerated mass loss is not achieved after functional effect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a two-phase degradation profile: Phase 1 maintains slow degradation for structural stability during the functional period, and Phase 2 triggers accelerated degradation after the functional effect is achieved. This periodic action is controlled by the release kinetics of the degradation accelerators and the hydrolytic instability of the polymer groups.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the degradation rate parameter from slow (during functional life) to fast (after functional life) through the controlled release of degradation accelerators. The chemical composition remains stable initially, then undergoes parameter change when the accelerators become active, triggering rapid mass loss while maintaining structural integrity until the transition point.
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 the medical device to degrade at a controlled rate, reducing the need for secondary surgeries, promoting tissue healing by transferring load to the bone and facilitating earlier removal, while allowing for programmable drug release and improved tissue integration.
Implementation Method 1
These bulk eroding materials breakdown over time due to chemical hydrolysis to produce water-soluble, low molecular weight fragments.
Implementation Method 2
These fragments are then attacked by enzymes to produce lower molecular weight metabolites.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device has a structure made of one biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material. A degradation additive is encapsulated by another biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material forming a nanoparticle or microparticle. The nanoparticle or microparticle is together with the one biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material of the structure. The other biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material of the nanoparticle or microparticle has a degradation rate that is faster than a degradation rate of the one biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material. The structure experiences a period of accelerated degradation upon release of the degradation additive from the nanoparticle or microparticle.