Bone Fiber Processing Apparatus for Tissue Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bone fiber compositions made using grinders or shredders produce fibers with uniform characteristics, which are dissimilar to naturally occurring collagen fibers, leading to incompatibility with host tissue and increased risk of infection and rejection in medical implants.
Innovation Solution
A novel apparatus and method to produce allograft bone fibers with varying lengths, widths, and thicknesses, allowing for enhanced surface area and entanglement properties, suitable for improved cellular infiltration and tissue regeneration, by debriding, demineralizing, and processing donor bone material into fibers that can be combined with an aqueous carrier to form a moldable implantable material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional grinders or shredders are used to process allograft bone material, then the processing is simple and efficient, but the resulting fibers have uniform characteristics that are dissimilar to naturally occurring collagen fibers, leading to incompatibility with host tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus applies different mechanical actions to different regions of the bone material during processing. The reciprocating motion of the cutting blade combined with variable pressure creates localized variations in fiber characteristics, producing a heterogeneous fiber composition that mimics natural collagen fiber diversity while maintaining processing efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The processing apparatus employs dynamic, variable parameters including reciprocating blade motion, adjustable pressure, and controlled feed rate. These dynamic conditions create varying fiber characteristics during processing, allowing the system to produce heterogeneous fiber structures that resemble natural tissue while maintaining manufacturing feasibility
2Ease of manufacture
If uniform bone fibers are produced by conventional methods, then the manufacturing process is straightforward, but the fiber composition lacks the varying characteristics needed for improved cellular infiltration and tissue regeneration
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus creates local variations in fiber characteristics through differentiated mechanical processing zones. Different regions of the bone material experience varying shear forces, compression, and blade contact durations, producing fibers with diverse dimensional properties that enhance cellular infiltration while maintaining manufacturing simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The system varies processing parameters such as blade reciprocating speed, applied pressure, and material feed rate to create a spectrum of fiber characteristics. These parameter changes during processing generate heterogeneous fiber compositions with varying lengths, widths, and thicknesses, improving biological performance without complicating manufacturing
3Strength
If non-organic materials like metal or ceramic are used for bone implants, then the structural strength is high, but the materials are incompatible with host tissue, causing loosening at the interface and increased risk of infection and rejection
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a composite structure combining organic bone material with processed fiber morphology. The allograft bone fibers retain the organic, biocompatible properties of natural bone while achieving enhanced structural characteristics through mechanical processing. This composite approach provides both biological compatibility and mechanical performance
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus transforms the physical parameters of allograft bone material through controlled mechanical processing. By varying pressure, blade motion, and processing conditions, the system creates fibers with optimized dimensional characteristics that enhance both structural integrity and biological compatibility, resolving the contradiction between strength and tissue compatibility
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 resulting fiber composition exhibits improved tensile strength, porosity, and cell infusion capabilities, enabling effective bone trauma repair, disease treatment, and spinal fusion applications with reduced risk of rejection and infection.
Implementation Method 1
The apparatus includes a carriage assembly configured for holding a donor bone material, a drive assembly operatively coupled to and extending between the actuator assembly and the carriage assembly, and a support assembly configured to support the actuator assembly, carriage assembly, and the drive assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A fiber producing apparatus and method for producing fibers having at least two different dimensions or characteristics. The apparatus cuts fibers of varying length, thickness, and width by varying a cutting stroke length, using a cutting plate having different cutting blades, and applying varying pressure on a material during the cutting process. The fibers of the present invention are moldable and can be used as an implant having a structure that mimics native or natural bones. The ability to mimic natural bone improves cellular infiltration and bone growth.