Bioabsorbable Polymer Artificial Blood Vessel Pore Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing porous tissue regeneration substrates using bioabsorbable polymers face challenges in achieving a wide choice of solvents and easy adjustment of bulk density and pore size, often resulting in non-uniform pore distributions and the use of toxic solvents, making it difficult to produce substrates with desired mechanical strength and bioabsorption properties.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of a bioabsorbable polymer dissolved in a uniform solution with a poor solvent and a good solvent that are incompatible, combined with a common solvent, allowing for phase separation and freeze-drying to produce substrates with adjustable pore size and bulk density, using less toxic solvents and enabling the production of artificial blood vessels with improved properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the phase separation process is used to adjust pore size by changing the mixing ratio between good solvent and poor solvent, then the pore size can be controlled, but the bulk density varies greatly and cannot be easily adjusted independently
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the solvent system into three distinct components: good solvent, poor solvent, and anti-solvent. This segmentation allows independent control of pore size (via good/poor solvent ratio) and bulk density (via anti-solvent addition), resolving the coupling problem in conventional two-solvent phase separation processes
Solution Approach 2:
The anti-solvent acts as an intermediary substance that mediates between the good solvent and poor solvent. It enables bulk density adjustment without disrupting the pore size control mechanism, as the anti-solvent integrates into the phase separation process and influences density independently through its own physical properties
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional solvents like 1,4-dioxane, N-methylpyrrolidone, or dimethyl sulfoxide are used as good solvents, then the phase separation process can be performed, but the solvents are highly toxic to the living body requiring complicated removal steps
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical parameter of the good solvent from highly toxic conventional solvents (1,4-dioxane, N-methylpyrrolidone, dimethyl sulfoxide) to less toxic alternatives (acetone, ethyl methyl ketone, ethyl acetate). This parameter change maintains the phase separation functionality while eliminating the need for complicated solvent removal steps, as the new solvents are inherently safer and more biocompatible
3Manufacturing precision
If water-soluble particles are added to bioabsorbable polymer solution to create porous structure, then porous substrate can be formed, but complete particle removal requires complicated process and high viscosity solutions cannot be processed
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the mechanical particle-leaching method with a chemical phase separation process. Instead of adding water-soluble particles and mechanically removing them through washing, the system uses controlled phase separation where the polymer precipitates into a porous structure directly. This substitution eliminates the need for complex particle removal steps and enables processing of high viscosity solutions that cannot be handled by particle-based methods
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 method allows for the production of porous tissue regeneration substrates with easily adjustable pore size and bulk density, reducing the use of toxic solvents and enhancing the mechanical strength and bioabsorption properties, suitable for tissue regeneration and artificial blood vessel applications.
Implementation Method 1
a phase separation process have been proposed. These methods include mixing good and poor solvents for a bioabsorbable polymer so as to form a uniform phase, followed by cooling to give a porous body
Implementation Method 2
a freeze-drying step of freeze-drying the porous body containing the bioabsorbable polymer to give a porous tissue regeneration substrate
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention aims to provide a method for producing a porous tissue regeneration substrate that allows a wide choice of solvents and easy adjustment of the bulk density and pore size of the porous substrate. The present invention also aims to provide a method for producing an artificial blood vessel and an artificial blood vessel. The present invention relates a porous, tubular artificial blood vessel containing a bioabsorbable material, the artificial blood vessel including: a skin layer having a relatively small pore size as an innermost layer; and a porous layer positioned around the skin layer and having a relatively large pore size.