Bone Replacement Material with Ceramic Core and Moldable Mass
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bone replacement materials face challenges such as limited load-bearing capacity, inability to precisely fit complex bone defects, and difficulty in revising or removing implants, leading to potential implant failure and loosening, especially in joint defects.
Innovation Solution
A bone replacement material composed of a moldable mass and supporting bodies that harden upon contact with water, allowing precise fitting and increased load-bearing capacity, with optional reinforcement by fibers and tension elements, enabling mechanical processing post-hardening for revision operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If ceramic implants are used to treat bone defects, then the mechanical properties become more comparable to natural bone tissue, but the implants cannot be adapted to the shape of the defect or modified during revision surgery
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is divided into two functional components: a rigid ceramic core (providing mechanical strength and stability) and a separate malleable mass (enabling adaptation to defect shape). This segmentation allows each component to fulfill its specific function without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant combines ceramic material (for mechanical strength) with a malleable bone substitute material (for shape adaptation). This composite structure integrates the advantages of both materials: the ceramic provides load-bearing capacity while the malleable material enables precise fitting to complex defect geometries.
2Strength
If metallic implants are used to bridge bone defects, then the implant can provide structural support, but the transitions from metal to bone are subject to significant fluctuations in stress making long-term fusion difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The implant changes the mechanical parameter of the bridging material from high-strength metal to ceramic with bone-like mechanical properties. This parameter change reduces stress fluctuations at the metal-bone interface and promotes physiological stress distribution, facilitating long-term fusion.
3Ease of manufacture
If bone substitute materials are used to treat bone defects, then the material can be inserted without complex preparation, but the load-bearing capacity is limited and forces may not be sufficiently transferred to healthy bone
Solution Approach 1:
The implant combines a rigid ceramic core (for load-bearing capacity) with a malleable bone substitute material (for ease of insertion and adaptation). This composite structure enables both simple insertion without complex bone preparation and sufficient force transfer to healthy bone through the ceramic component.
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 material provides improved load-bearing capacity, precise fitting for complex defects, and the ability to be processed mechanically, reducing the risk of implant failure and allowing for effective treatment of both initial and revised bone defects.
Implementation Method 1
a moldable mass which, in an uncured state, enables a precise fitting of the bone replacement material to a bone defect
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a bone replacement material which comprises support elements and a plastic mass that can harden upon contact with water or with an aqueous liquid. The invention further relates to a method for producing a bone replacement material, a bone replacement material and medical kits for the treatment of bone defects.