Bioabsorbable Self-Cohered Web Materials for Implantable Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bioabsorbable polymeric web materials lack high porosity, mechanical strength, loft, suppleness, drapability, and tissue compliance, limiting their application in implantable medical devices and thrombogenic agents.
Innovation Solution
A synthetic bioabsorbable, non-woven, self-cohered polymeric web material with high porosity is developed by stretching unannealed precursor web materials in specific directions and heat-setting, resulting in filaments with increased void space and birefringence, enhancing mechanical properties and tissue compatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional bioabsorbable polymeric web materials are used, then they can be easily manufactured, but they lack high porosity, mechanical strength, loft, suppleness, and tissue compliance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies porous materials by creating a highly porous non-woven web structure with porosity exceeding 90%. This is achieved through a specific manufacturing process involving extrusion of bioabsorbable polymer filaments, web formation, and controlled thermal processing that preserves pore structure while enhancing mechanical properties. The porous structure provides both high porosity for tissue compliance and a framework that can support enhanced mechanical strength through the described processing methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies composite materials by combining bioabsorbable polymeric materials with other materials to create a composite non-woven web. The composite structure integrates the bioabsorbable polymer matrix with additional components that enhance mechanical strength, loft, and suppleness while maintaining the high porosity characteristic. This composite approach allows simultaneous achievement of multiple properties that are difficult to obtain with a single material.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional bioabsorbable polymeric web materials are used, then they can be easily manufactured, but they lack high porosity and tissue compliance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies porous materials by creating a highly porous non-woven web structure with porosity exceeding 90%. This is achieved through a specific manufacturing process involving extrusion of bioabsorbable polymer filaments, web formation, and controlled thermal processing that preserves pore structure while enhancing mechanical properties. The porous structure provides both high porosity for tissue compliance and a framework that can support enhanced mechanical strength through the described processing methods.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the web material is made more porous to improve tissue compliance, then tissue compliance is enhanced, but mechanical strength may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining bioabsorbable polymeric materials with other materials to create a composite non-woven web. The composite structure integrates the bioabsorbable polymer matrix with additional components that enhance mechanical strength, loft, and suppleness while maintaining the high porosity characteristic. This composite approach allows simultaneous achievement of multiple properties that are difficult to obtain with a single material.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the thermal processing parameters (temperature, time, atmosphere) to achieve a specific microstructure that provides both high porosity and enhanced mechanical strength. The processing parameters are optimized to create a pore structure that maintains tissue compliance while the controlled thermal treatment enhances the mechanical properties of the polymer matrix, resolving the trade-off between porosity and strength.
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 resulting web material exhibits enhanced mechanical strength, loft, suppleness, and tissue compliance, making it suitable for implantable medical devices and effective as a thrombogenic agent, with porosity exceeding 90% and improved biocompatibility.
Implementation Method 1
stretching unannealed precursor web materials in specific directions
Implementation Method 2
heat-setting, resulting in filaments with increased void space and birefringence
Implementation Method 3
hydrolysis of labile chemical bonds in the bioabsorbable compound
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1A
Figure 2~2A
AI summary
The present invention is directed to implantable bioabsorbable non-woven self-cohered web materials having a high degree of porosity. The web materials are very supple and soft, while exhibiting proportionally increased mechanical strength in one or more directions. The web materials often possess a high degree of loft. The web materials can be formed into a variety of shapes and forms suitable for use as implantable medical devices or components thereof.