Bioresorbable Screw Fastener for Controlled Tissue Resorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical fasteners that remain in the body for extended periods can cause excessive scar tissue formation, leading to patient complications and discomfort, as well as hindering future surgical procedures, due to their permanent nature or prolonged presence.
Innovation Solution
A bioresorbable screw fastener with a helical thread and enlarged outer diameter for stability, designed to be completely resorbed by the body within 14 days to one year, maintaining sufficient strength for tissue healing and integration before degradation, thereby minimizing long-term discomfort and adhesion formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If permanent metal staples or long-term fasteners are used, then structural integrity and reliability are maintained, but excessive scar tissue formation and patient discomfort occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from permanent metal to bioresorbable polymer, allowing the fastener to maintain structural integrity during the healing period and then gradually degrade. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by eliminating long-term foreign body presence that causes scar tissue while maintaining reliability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a disposable, short-living fastener made of bioresorbable material that serves its structural purpose temporarily and then is naturally absorbed by the body. This approach eliminates the need for permanent implants, reducing scar tissue formation and patient discomfort while providing adequate structural support during the critical healing period.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If permanent fasteners are used, then long-term stability is ensured, but future surgical procedures are hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the duration parameter from permanent to temporary (1-2 years), matching the optimal healing period. This allows the fastener to provide long-term stability during and after surgery, then naturally degrade to restore full adaptability for future surgical procedures without permanent foreign body interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The bioresorbable fastener serves as a temporary solution that fulfills the stability requirement for the necessary duration and then disappears, restoring full versatility for future surgical interventions without permanent obstruction or scarring.
3Duration of action of moving object
If fasteners remain in the body for extended periods, then structural support is maintained, but patient discomfort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the duration parameter to match the biological healing timeline (1-2 years), after which the fastener naturally degrades. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining structural support exactly as long as needed for healing, then eliminating the foreign body source of discomfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The temporary nature of the bioresorbable fastener allows it to provide necessary structural support during the healing period and then be naturally absorbed, eliminating long-term patient discomfort associated with permanent implants while maintaining adequate support duration.
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 bioresorbable screw fastener provides temporary structural integrity for tissue healing and integration, reducing the risk of adhesions and long-term discomfort by being fully resorbed within a defined period, thus addressing the issues associated with permanent fasteners.
Implementation Method 1
The fastener of the present disclosure can be 100% resorbed in vivo during a period of time ranging from about 14 days to about one year after implantation
Implementation Method 2
The fastener of the present disclosure retains sufficient strength for enough time to permit the healing and/or in-growth of tissue at the repair site, after which time it is completely resorbed by the body
Data Source
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AI summary
A resorbable screw fastener and a method of firing with an applicator capable of applying a surgical fastener to tissue in order to form tissue connection to secure objects to tissue, the fastener including a body portion having a helical thread, a head portion disposed at the proximal end of the body portion. The resorbable screw fastener is 100 % resorbed in vivo during a period of time ranging from about 14 days to about one year after implantation.