Bioactive Bone Graft Composite with Porous Structure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current bone graft materials lack the necessary strength, flexibility, and handling properties for a wide range of clinical applications, and there is a need for resorbable, bioactive materials that can promote bone bonding, capillary action, and fluid retention for effective bone formation.

Innovation Solution

A bone graft material comprising resorbable collagen and calcium phosphate with macro-, meso-, and microporosity, combined with bioactive glass having a particle size of less than 150 µm, which provides osteostimulative, osteoconductive, and osteoinductive properties, allowing for flexible handling and shapeability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If calcium phosphate bone graft materials are used to provide resorbability and osteoconductivity, then bone formation is promoted, but the materials lack sufficient strength and flexibility for load-bearing applications

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebone formation capabilityVSAvoidmechanical strength
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines calcium phosphate particles (providing osteoconductivity and resorbability) with collagen matrix (providing flexibility and mechanical strength) and bioactive glass (providing osteostimulative properties and compression resistance). This composite structure allows the graft material to simultaneously achieve bone formation promotion and sufficient mechanical strength for load-bearing applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a heterogeneous composite where different materials are distributed throughout the graft structure: calcium phosphate particles provide localized osteoconductivity, collagen provides overall structural flexibility, and bioactive glass particles provide localized osteostimulative effects. This local quality distribution allows each component to contribute its specific properties where needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the bone graft material is made highly porous to promote revascularization and healing, then bone formation is enhanced, but the structural integrity and handling properties deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverevascularization capabilityVSAvoidstructural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a highly porous structure with interconnected pores throughout the calcium phosphate-collagen-bioactive glass composite. This porosity promotes capillary action for fluid delivery, enables cell infiltration and revascularization, while the collagen matrix and bioactive glass particles provide structural support that maintains integrity despite the high porosity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The composite structure allows the porous calcium phosphate framework to provide osteoconductivity and porosity, while the collagen and bioactive glass components reinforce the structure, preventing collapse of the porous network and maintaining handling properties despite high porosity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Object-affected harmful factors

If synthetic bone graft materials are used to avoid donor site morbidity, then patient comfort is improved, but the materials lack bioactivity and osteostimulative properties

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedonor site morbidityVSAvoidbioactivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines synthetic calcium phosphate (avoiding donor site morbidity) with bioactive glass particles that provide osteostimulative properties. The bioactive glass releases ions that stimulate osteoblast activity and promote bone formation, while the calcium phosphate provides osteoconductivity. This composite approach achieves both patient comfort and enhanced bioactivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The bioactive glass acts as an intermediary that bridges the gap between inert synthetic materials and living bone tissue. It releases bioactive ions that mediate the interaction between the synthetic calcium phosphate-collagen matrix and the surrounding bone, stimulating bone formation and integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of operation

If the bone graft material is made flexible and moldable for easy handling, then ease of operation is improved, but the compression resistance and structural stability worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling flexibilityVSAvoidcompression resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the moisture-sensitive properties of collagen, which transitions from a rigid dry state to a flexible wet state. When the collagen-calcium phosphate-bioactive glass composite is exposed to bodily fluids or moisture during implantation, the collagen softens and becomes moldable, improving handling flexibility. Once implanted, the structure stabilizes and gains compression resistance from the bioactive glass particles and calcified collagen.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 material exhibits improved resorption and bone formation properties, maintaining structural integrity and flexibility, enabling effective bone reconstruction and repair in various anatomical sites with enhanced handling and fluid retention capabilities.

Implementation Method 1

The role of pore size and porosity in promoting revascularization, healing, and remodeling of bone has been recognized as a critical property for bone grafting materials.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 2

a container of bioactive glass, wherein the bioactive glass has a particle size of less than 150 μm

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBioactive glass dissolution:

Data Source

PatentEP2896411B1Bioactive bone graft substitute
Publication Date: 2023.08.30 ORTHOVITA INC
  • EP2896411B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP2896411B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2896411B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

The invention relates to biocompatible bone graft materials for repairing bone defects and the application of such bone graft materials.