Bioabsorbable Metal Staple with Coating for Controlled Biocorrosion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical staples made of bioabsorbable materials face challenges in maintaining structural integrity during the biocorrosion timeframe to ensure adequate tissue healing, while also being safe and compatible with electrosurgical instruments.
Innovation Solution
Development of bioabsorbable metal staples with specific coatings and designs that enhance their structural integrity and biocorrosion properties, including coatings that delay absorption and improve compatibility with surgical instruments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If bioabsorbable materials are used for surgical staples, then the staples can ultimately dissolve and release the tissue after healing, but the staples lose structural integrity too quickly during the biocorrosion timeframe
Solution Approach 1:
The staple is constructed as a composite structure with an inner core made of a first bioabsorbable material and an outer coating made of a second bioabsorbable material. This composite design allows the inner core to provide initial structural strength while the outer coating controls the degradation rate, enabling the staple to maintain structural integrity throughout the biocorrosion timeframe while ultimately dissolving to release the tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes controlled parameter changes in the materials' degradation rates. The inner core material and outer coating material are selected with different degradation characteristics, allowing the staple to transition from a high-strength state during healing to a controlled dissolution state after healing, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining strength and enabling eventual dissolution.
2Duration of action of moving object
If bioabsorbable materials are used for surgical staples, then the staples can dissolve and release the tissue, but the materials may have safety concerns such as toxicity
Solution Approach 1:
The outer coating acts as an intermediary layer between the inner core material and the surrounding tissue environment. This coating controls the interaction between the bioabsorbable materials and the body, regulating the dissolution process to prevent toxic effects while allowing beneficial tissue release after healing. The coating serves as a protective mediator that manages the interface between the implant and biological system.
3Duration of action of moving object
If bioabsorbable materials are used for surgical staples, then the staples can dissolve after healing, but the materials may have incompatibility with electrosurgical instruments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent selects bioabsorbable materials with specific physical and chemical parameters that are compatible with electrosurgical instruments. The outer coating material is chosen to have appropriate electrical properties and thermal stability that allow safe use with electrosurgical tools during the surgical procedure, while still maintaining its intended dissolution characteristics over time.
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 bioabsorbable metal staples effectively maintain tissue compression and support healing by ensuring structural integrity during the biocorrosion timeframe, while being safe and compatible with electrosurgical instruments.
Implementation Method 1
the staples must maintain their structural integrity for an amount of time, i.e., the biocorrosion timeframe, to allow for sufficient healing of the tissue
Implementation Method 2
Development of bioabsorbable metal staples with specific coatings and designs that enhance their structural integrity and biocorrosion properties, including coatings that delay absorption and improve compatibility with surgical instruments
Data Source
AI summary
A method of pairing bioabsorbable staples in a staple cartridge with the tissue being treated such that the staples are structurally sufficient during the healing window of the tissue but completely bioabsorb shortly thereafter.