Biodegradable Ceramic Ligament Implant for Bone Reconstruction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for ligament and bone reconstruction, such as using metal interference screws or resorbable materials, face issues like mechanical weakness, tissue damage, loosening fixation, bone resorption, and difficulty in revision surgeries due to bony sheating and tunnel enlargement.

Innovation Solution

A biodegradable ceramic implant with a micro pore structure and high mechanical strength, designed for press fit or form fit fixation of ligaments to bone, which remodels into vital bone, providing sufficient mechanical properties for early rehabilitation and reducing the risk of mechanical strength loss during the healing period.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If metal interference screws are used for ligament fixation, then mechanical strength is improved, but tissue damage and difficulty in revision surgery occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical strengthVSAvoidtissue damage

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a porous biodegradable ceramic material (such as hydroxyapatite or tricalcium phosphate) that provides mechanical strength while allowing bone ingrowth. The porous structure enables osteointegration, eliminating tissue damage from sharp metal threads, and facilitates revision surgery as the material degrades naturally over time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses composite structures combining biodegradable ceramic materials with appropriate pore structures. These composite materials achieve the necessary mechanical strength for ligament fixation while incorporating biocompatible properties that prevent tissue damage and enable safe revision procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If resorbable interference screws are used to avoid tissue damage, then tissue damage is reduced, but fixation loosening and bone resorption occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue damageVSAvoidfixation stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The porous structure of the biodegradable ceramic provides mechanical interlocking with surrounding bone tissue, preventing fixation loosening. The controlled pore size and distribution maintain structural integrity during the healing period while allowing progressive bone ingrowth for long-term stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes parameters such as pore size, pore distribution, and material composition to balance mechanical strength and biodegradation rate. This ensures fixation stability is maintained throughout the healing process while preventing bone resorption through appropriate material selection and structural design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If bone replacement material with high porosity is used for fast bone ingrowth, then bone ingrowth speed is improved, but mechanical strength is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebone ingrowth speedVSAvoidmechanical strength

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes biodegradable ceramic materials with optimized porous structures that provide both fast bone ingrowth capability and sufficient mechanical strength. The pore size and distribution are carefully controlled to allow rapid osteointegration while maintaining the structural integrity needed for load-bearing applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

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 biodegradable ceramic implant achieves a ligament bone connection with mechanical strength comparable to conventional fixation methods, allowing for early rehabilitation and simplifying surgical procedures, while reducing the need for revision surgeries due to its ability to remodel into vital bone.

Implementation Method 1

the property of the biodegradable material to be remodeled into vital bone means that new vital bone is formed simultaneously as the implant material degrades by cellular activity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBiodegradation: Decomposition (biological)

Implementation Method 2

Osteoblasts fill the lacunae, thus synthesizing extracellular matrix which is subsequently calcified

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOsteogenesis:

Implementation Method 3

The inventive implant is then pressed into the bore in order to securely fix the ligament to the bone by press fit or form fit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPress fit: Compression

Data Source

PatentUS8128696B2System and implant for ligament reconstruction or bone reconstruction

Publication Date: 2012.03.06 MATHYS AG BETTLACH

AI summary

An implant (5) for ligament and/or bone reconstruction is composed of biodegradable material suitable to be remodeled into vital bone and having mechanical strength for securely fixing a ligament in a bore or hole in bone with a press or form fit and/or reshaping a collapsed surface of bone into original shape. A surgical instrument (9) for ligament and/or bone reconstruction can be used to insert the implant (5) into bone and has a shaft member (3) having a first end (11), a second end and a longitudinal bore (15) having an inner diameter and pushing member (4) having a first end, second end and piston (16) in turn having an outer diameter smaller than or equal to inner diameter of the bore (10) so that the piston (16) of the pushing member (4) can be slidably arranged within the longitudinal bore (10).