Biodegradable Implant Cage for Spinal Fusion Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spinal fusion devices using metal hardware face challenges in maintaining stability and promoting bone growth due to compression forces from paraspinal muscles, which can lead to leakage of growth factors like BMP-2, requiring high doses for effective fusion in intertransverse process fusion.
Innovation Solution
A biodegradable implant with a bioabsorbable polymer case containing a bone generating material and porous structure to distribute compression forces and protect growth factors, allowing for controlled delivery and enhanced bone regeneration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a collagen sponge is used to deliver BMP-2 in posterior intertransverse process fusion, then bone formation is promoted, but the paraspinal muscles compress the sponge and cause BMP-2 to leak away from the fusion site
Solution Approach 1:
The patent places the collagen sponge containing BMP-2 inside a rigid biodegradable cage structure. The cage acts as a protective container that prevents muscle compression from directly affecting the sponge, thereby preventing BMP-2 leakage while maintaining the bone formation promotion function of the sponge.
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid biodegradable cage serves as an intermediary structure between the paraspinal muscles and the collagen sponge. It absorbs and distributes the compression forces, preventing direct transmission of muscle pressure to the sponge and thus preventing BMP-2 leakage while allowing the sponge to function.
2Reliability
If high doses of BMP-2 are used to achieve fusion, then fusion rates improve, but the complexity and cost of the procedure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful compression forces from paraspinal muscles into a beneficial distributed pressure system. The rigid cage structure distributes the compression forces uniformly across the implant site, preventing BMP-2 leakage and ensuring controlled delivery, which allows effective fusion at lower, more manageable doses.
3Strength
If metal hardware is used to provide stability during fusion, then mechanical stability is improved, but the ability to promote bone growth is reduced due to compression forces on growth factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters from permanent metal hardware to biodegradable polymers with specific mechanical properties. The rigid biodegradable cage provides the necessary mechanical stability during the healing period, then gradually degrades as bone formation progresses, eliminating the long-term presence of foreign material while maintaining bone growth promotion capabilities.
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 implant effectively reduces compression forces on growth factors, promoting bone fusion by maintaining structural integrity and controlled delivery of BMP-2, thereby improving fusion rates and reducing morbidity associated with traditional methods.
Implementation Method 1
A molded biodegradable case being made of bioabsorbable polymer can at least partially surround the absorbable matrix to carry a substantial portion of compression force relative to said absorbable matrix
Implementation Method 2
allowing for controlled delivery and enhanced bone regeneration
Implementation Method 3
A molded biodegradable case being made of bioabsorbable polymer
Data Source
AI summary
A biodegradable implant for use in intertransverse process spinal fusion having an absorbable matrix having a bone generating material disposed therein. A molded biodegradable case being made of bioabsorbable polymer can at least partially surround the absorbable matrix to carry a substantial portion of compression force relative to said absorbable matrix.