Breast Prosthesis Drug Layer for Controlled Release

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional breast prostheses face challenges with capsular contracture, inflammation, and adverse reactions due to fibrosis, requiring long-term drug administration, which is costly and inefficient, with unpredictable drug release patterns and doses.

Innovation Solution

A breast prosthesis with a drug layer composed of biocompatible polymer-bound drug-loaded particles, allowing controlled release through adjustable particle size, polymer type, and layer thickness, using external energy sources like ultrasonic waves for sustained drug delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If long-term drug administration is performed to prevent capsular contracture, then therapeutic effect is improved, but financial burden and adverse drug reactions increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetherapeutic effectVSAvoidadverse drug reactions

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the drug delivery system into multiple components: drug-loaded particles (containing the therapeutic agent), a biocompatible polymer matrix (for controlled release), and a breast prosthesis substrate. This segmentation allows the drug to be delivered locally in a controlled manner rather than through systemic long-term administration, reducing adverse reactions while maintaining therapeutic effect.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-loading the breast prosthesis with drug-containing particles before implantation. The drug is already positioned at the target site (capsule formation area), enabling immediate local action when needed, rather than requiring subsequent long-term systemic administration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If drug-loaded particles are mounted on breast prosthesis, then local drug delivery is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to lack of quantitative analysis

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocal drug deliveryVSAvoiddrug quantity control

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by controlling key parameters of the drug delivery system: particle size (affecting release rate), polymer composition (affecting degradation and release kinetics), and layer thickness (affecting total drug load). These controllable parameters enable reproducible drug delivery without requiring complex quantitative analysis during manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite materials comprising drug-loaded particles embedded in a biocompatible polymer matrix. This composite structure provides both the therapeutic function (drug delivery) and structural function (controlled release mechanism), simplifying manufacturing while ensuring reproducible performance through material science principles rather than complex assembly procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Duration of action of moving object

If drug release duration is extended for sustained delivery, then therapeutic effectiveness is improved, but control over release timing deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrug release durationVSAvoidrelease timing control

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by designing a drug delivery system where the release rate is dynamically controlled by the degradation of the biocompatible polymer matrix. As the polymer degrades over time, the drug release rate changes accordingly, providing sustained delivery with inherent temporal control built into the material's degradation kinetics rather than requiring external control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enables controlled, sustained drug release reducing inflammation and fibrosis, improving therapeutic outcomes while minimizing adverse reactions and drug burden, with precise control over drug delivery duration and dose.

Implementation Method 1

a drug layer bound onto the breast prosthesis or a part thereof, wherein the drug layer consists of composites comprising drug-loaded particles and a biocompatible polymer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

the drug-loaded particles consist of composites comprising a drug and a biocompatible polymer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentUS9642697B2Breast prosthesis allowing controlled release of drug and production method for same

Publication Date: 2017.05.09 SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY R&DB FOUNDATION

AI summary

The present invention relates to a breast prosthesis allowing controlled release of a drug and to a production method for same, and more specifically, relates to a breast prosthesis allowing controlled release of a drug by the coupling of a drug layer comprising particles carrying the drug on the breast prosthesis, and to a production method for same.