Biodegradable Foam for Nasal Packing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional biodegradable absorbent foams for medical applications lack sufficient mechanical strength, absorption capacity, and durability, leading to discomfort and complications during and after surgery, particularly in nasal packing and wound closure.
Innovation Solution
A biodegradable absorbent foam comprising a phase-separated polymer with an amorphous hydrophilic segment and a crystalline segment, providing improved mechanical properties and fluid absorption capacity, maintaining resilience even when wet, and degrading over time to prevent tissue damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional biodegradable materials (gelatine, collagen, chitin, cellulose, polysaccharides) are used to improve biodegradability and reduce patient discomfort, then the material degrades in the body, but the mechanical strength is insufficient and the material liquefies too fast to stop severe bleeding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite material system consisting of a biodegradable polymer matrix (such as polyglycolic acid, polylactic acid, or their copolymers) combined with hydrophilic absorbent particles (such as cross-linked polyacrylic acid, carboxymethyl cellulose, or starch derivatives). This composite structure allows the biodegradable polymer to provide mechanical strength and structural integrity, while the hydrophilic particles provide fluid absorption capacity. The synergistic combination resolves the contradiction by ensuring both biodegradability and sufficient mechanical strength during the critical hemostatic period.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating a heterogeneous structure where different regions of the foam have different properties. The biodegradable polymer forms a rigid framework that maintains structural integrity, while the hydrophilic particles are distributed within this framework to provide localized fluid absorption. This spatial differentiation allows the material to simultaneously exhibit both mechanical strength (from the polymer framework) and biodegradability (from the entire composite structure), resolving the contradiction between these two properties.
2Quantity of substance
If synthetic materials (polyurethane-based hydrogels) are used to improve absorption capacity and physico-mechanical properties, then the absorption capacity increases, but the material is biodurable and not biodegradable, requiring removal after several days
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the material by selecting biodegradable polymers with specific molecular weights, degradation rates, and crystallinity levels. By adjusting these parameters, the material achieves both high fluid absorption capacity (through hydrophilic groups and porous structure) and controlled biodegradability (through selectable polymer composition). This parameter optimization allows the material to absorb large quantities of fluid while simultaneously being biodegradable, resolving the contradiction between absorption capacity and biodegradability.
3Strength
If PGA-based foams are used to provide mechanical strength and structural support, then the material is hard and brittle, but the material is not sufficiently hydrophilic to absorb blood during severe bleeding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a heterogeneous structure where different regions of the foam have different properties. The biodegradable polymer forms a rigid framework that maintains structural integrity, while the hydrophilic particles are distributed within this framework to provide localized fluid absorption. This spatial differentiation allows the material to simultaneously exhibit both mechanical strength (from the polymer framework) and biodegradability (from the entire composite structure), resolving the contradiction between these two properties.
4Reliability
If conventional packs (gauze or cotton) are used to provide absorbability, then the material is biodegradable, but the fluid absorption capacity is relatively low and the structure is fragile with individual threads breaking off
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite material system consisting of a biodegradable polymer matrix (such as polyglycolic acid, polylactic acid, or their copolymers) combined with hydrophilic absorbent particles (such as cross-linked polyacrylic acid, carboxymethyl cellulose, or starch derivatives). This composite structure allows the biodegradable polymer to provide mechanical strength and structural integrity, while the hydrophilic particles provide fluid absorption capacity. The synergistic combination resolves the contradiction by ensuring both biodegradability and sufficient mechanical strength during the critical hemostatic period.
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 foam effectively absorbs and manages bodily fluids, maintains mechanical strength and elasticity during healing, and degrades safely, reducing patient discomfort and complications associated with removal and tissue adhesion.
Implementation Method 1
a biodegradable absorbent foam comprising a phase-separated polymer consisting of an amorphous segment and a crystalline segment and wherein at least said amorphous segment comprises a hydrophilic segment
Implementation Method 2
the foam effectively absorbs and manages bodily fluids
Implementation Method 3
a phase-separated polymer consisting of an amorphous segment and a crystalline segment
Implementation Method 4
biodegradable absorbent foam
Implementation Method 5
degrades over time to prevent tissue damage
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates, generally, to porous absorbent materials which are suitable for packing antrums or other cavities of the human or animal body. More particularly, it relates to hydrophilic biodegradable foams, which may be used, e.g., in the form of a plug or tampon, for instance for controlling bleeding, wound closure, prevent tissue adhesion and/or support tissue regeneration. The invention provides an absorbent foam, suitable for packing antrums or other cavities of the human or animal body, comprising a biodegradable synthetic polymer, which polymer comprises —C(O)—O— groups in the backbone of the polymer, for instance polyurethane and/or polyester units combined with polyethers.