Bioresorbable Substrate for Skin Micrograft Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current skin grafting techniques face challenges such as trauma and increased pain at the donor site due to the need for large skin sections, which can lead to prolonged healing times and increased infection risk, especially when transferring micrografts to larger recipient sites.
Innovation Solution
A substrate system comprising a bioresorbable material like oxidized regenerated cellulose and collagen, combined with an adhesive such as glucose, is used to support and transfer skin micrografts from a donor site to a recipient site, facilitating improved healing and reducing trauma by allowing the substrate to be left in place for extended periods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a large section of skin is removed from the donor site to match the recipient site size, then the graft can cover the entire recipient site, but trauma and pain at the donor site increase and healing time is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the grafting process into multiple stages: first harvesting numerous small micrografts from a limited donor site area, then transferring these micrografts onto a substrate that will be applied to the recipient site. This segmentation allows coverage of large recipient areas while minimizing donor site trauma, as the micrografts can be harvested from a smaller donor area than would be needed for a single large graft.
Solution Approach 2:
The substrate acts as an intermediary carrier that receives the micrografts at the donor site and subsequently transfers them to the recipient site. This intermediary device enables the decoupling of the harvesting location from the final implantation location, allowing micrografts to be harvested from a small donor area and then distributed across a large recipient site through the substrate medium.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If micrografts are harvested to reduce donor site trauma, then donor site pain is reduced, but the complexity of transferring and integrating multiple micrografts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines multiple micrografts onto a single substrate, consolidating what would otherwise be numerous separate transplantation procedures into a single integrated application. The substrate serves as a unified platform that holds multiple micrografts in organized arrays, allowing simultaneous transfer and implantation across the recipient site, thereby reducing procedural complexity.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If the substrate remains in place for extended periods to promote healing, then tissue integration is improved, but the risk of infection at the recipient site may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate is designed with specific material parameters including bioresorbability to control its retention time. The biochemical composition and degradation rate are engineered to provide structural support during the critical healing period while automatically degrading after tissue integration is achieved, thus limiting the duration of potential infection risk without compromising healing outcomes.
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 substrate system enhances the transfer and integration of skin micrografts by providing a bioresorbable and adhesive support that minimizes trauma, promotes healing, and modulates protease activity, allowing for effective tissue growth and reduced risk of infection.
Implementation Method 1
The substrate may have a first surface and a second surface, and comprises a bioresorbable material and an adhesive
Implementation Method 2
The substrate may have a first surface and a second surface, and comprises a bioresorbable material
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2a
AI summary
A substrate for transplanting a skin micrograft. The substrate may be configured to receive the tissue micrograft and be positioned at a recipient site. The substrate may have a first surface and a second surface, and may include a bioresorbable material and an adhesive. The bioresorbable material may include oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC), for example, from about 40% to about 50% by weight of the substrate. The bioresorbable material may include collagen, for example, from about 50% to about 60% by weight of the substrate. The adhesive may include a sugar, for example, glucose from about 8% to about 16% by weight of the substrate. The bioresorbable material may include a plasticizer, for example, glycerol.