Biodegradable Disc Implants for Sustained Intervertebral Pain Relief

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for intervertebral disc pain, such as epidural steroid injections, provide temporary relief and pose risks, while surgical interventions are invasive and not targeted at the disc itself, necessitating a more effective and safer method for prolonged pain management.

Innovation Solution

Biomaterial compositions and implants containing biodegradable microparticles loaded with anesthetics, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatory agents, configured for controlled release to target the intervertebral disc, providing direct therapy and resorbing over time without surgery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If epidural steroid injections are used for pain management, then temporary pain relief is achieved, but the duration of action is limited and infection risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepain relief effectivenessVSAvoidduration of pain relief

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The injection is segmented into multiple micro-injections delivered at different locations within the epidural space, allowing sustained release of multiple medications over extended periods while reducing the risk associated with single large-volume injections

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The treatment protocol involves repeated injections at scheduled intervals (e.g., weekly or biweekly), maintaining continuous therapeutic action and pain relief over months rather than providing only temporary relief from a single injection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Duration of action of stationary object

If epidural steroid injections are administered repeatedly, then prolonged pain relief may be achieved, but infection risks and adverse effects increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveduration of pain reliefVSAvoidinfection risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple medications are combined in a single injection formulation, including steroids for anti-inflammatory effects, anesthetics for immediate pain relief, and antibiotics to prevent infection, thereby reducing the need for multiple separate injection procedures and associated infection risks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The injection formulation includes antibiotics that provide self-protective anti-infective action at the injection site, allowing the treatment to protect itself against infection without requiring additional preventive measures or increasing procedural complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Object-affected harmful factors

If surgical intervention is performed for disc pain, then invasive treatment is provided, but the procedure does not directly target the intervertebral disc itself

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepain management effectivenessVSAvoidminimally invasive application

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The treatment extracts and isolates the intervertebral disc as the specific treatment target through image-guided needle placement, delivering medication directly to the disc and surrounding structures while avoiding the need for open surgical exposure of the spine

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

A needle or catheter serves as an intermediary delivery device, transmitting the medication from the injection site directly to the intervertebral disc without requiring surgical exposure, thereby bridging the gap between minimally invasive access and direct disc targeting

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 biomaterials offer sustained pain relief by maintaining a therapeutic dose of multiple agents, reducing the risk of infection and avoiding invasive procedures, with a minimally invasive application method.

Implementation Method 1

biomaterial compositions and implants are configured to release medication over time and may be reabsorbed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBiodegradation: Decomposition (biological)

Implementation Method 2

The hydrogel may be a temperature sensitive hydrogel that undergoes a sol-gel transition at physiological temperatures and conditions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSol-gel transition: Phase Change

Implementation Method 3

the microparticles may be suspended in a biocompatible hydrogel to form an injectable composition

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuspension: Suspension

Data Source

PatentUS12472141B2Drug delivery for intervertebral disc pain management

Publication Date: 2025.11.18 GLOBUS MEDICAL INC

AI summary

Biomaterials, implants, methods of making the biomaterial and implants, methods of providing pain relief by administering the biomaterial or implant to a patient, and kits that include such biomaterials, implants, or components thereof. The biomaterials may include microparticles including one or more active pharmaceutical agents, such as anesthetics, antibiotics, and corticosteroids, which help to provide pain relief over an extended period of time. The biomaterials may be applied directly to the intervertebral disc or in the disc space to provide direct therapy for the management of disc pain.