Biodegradable Joint Mould for Minimally Invasive Resurfacing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional orthopedic surgery for joint osteoarthritis is highly invasive, leading to damage of ligaments, tendons, and surrounding tissue, resulting in limited motion range and load-carrying capability, and poses a risk of infection due to large incisions required for prosthetic placement.
Innovation Solution
A mould made from biocompatible materials such as hyaluronan, fibrin, collagen, or chitosan, which can be resorbed or melted by enzymes or temperature changes, allowing for less invasive resurfacing of joint surfaces within the joint, using a system that includes an injecting member to introduce and cure materials within the joint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional orthopedic surgery is performed to replace joint parts with prostheses, then joint function can be restored, but tissue damage and infection risk increase due to large incisions
Solution Approach 1:
The joint replacement procedure is segmented into two independent parts: (1) a minimally invasive step to implant a small mould through a small incision, and (2) a separate step to inject resurfacing material into the mould. This segmentation allows the prosthetic components to be introduced through small incisions rather than large ones, reducing tissue damage and infection risk while still achieving joint resurfacing.
Solution Approach 2:
A mould acts as an intermediary device that is implanted through a small incision and then filled with resurfacing material. The mould serves as a temporary carrier or template that enables the delivery of the actual prosthetic material through a minimally invasive approach, rather than requiring direct insertion of large prosthetic components through large incisions.
2Ease of manufacture
If large incisions are made to access the joint for prosthesis placement, then prosthetic parts can be implanted, but recovery time and hospitalization duration increase
Solution Approach 1:
The procedure is divided into separate stages: first implanting a small mould through minimal incision, then injecting the resurfacing material. This allows the critical path to be shortened - the mould can be implanted quickly through a small incision, and the material injection can be done subsequently, reducing both operating time and initial recovery period compared to traditional single-stage large incision surgery.
3Ease of operation
If ligaments and surrounding tissue are severed during surgery, then joint access is achieved, but motion range and load-carrying capability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of approaching the joint from the outside through large incisions that require cutting through ligaments and tissue, the mould is introduced through a small incision and positioned inside the joint capsule. This inverted approach - working from within the joint rather than forcing access from without - allows joint access without severing critical supporting structures, preserving motion range and load-carrying capability.
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 solution enables minimally invasive joint resurfacing, reducing tissue damage and infection risk, with the mould being resorbed or melted after serving its purpose, facilitating faster recovery and improved joint function.
Implementation Method 1
The mould comprises a mould material adapted to be affected by a fluid injected into said mould such that said mould melts or is resorbed by the human body after having served its purpose
Implementation Method 2
The mould comprises a mould material adapted to be affected by a fluid injected into said mould such that said mould melts or is resorbed by the human body after having served its purpose
Implementation Method 3
the mould comprises a hyaluronan-based material, in which case the mould could be adapted to receive hyaluronidase, and wherein the material of said mould is affected by the injection of the hyaluronidase such that the mould melts or is resorbed faster than without the injection of the hyaluronidase
Data Source
AI summary
A mould adapted to be introduced into a joint of a human patient for resurfacing at least one carrying contacting surface of said joint is provided. The mould is adapted to receive material for resurfacing at least one carrying contacting surface of said joint. The mould is further adapted to be resorbed by the human body or melt after having served its purpose.