Additive Manufactured Ceramic Nasal Implant with Controlled Macroporosity
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nasal implants face challenges with biocompatibility, as materials of animal origin carry contamination risks and lack controlled bioresorbability, leading to issues like scar tissue formation and inflammatory reactions, while synthetic materials struggle with achieving controlled macroporosity for tissue integration and resorption.
Innovation Solution
A biocompatible ceramic nasal implant manufactured via additive manufacturing, featuring a main portion, return portion, and intermediate portion with controlled macroporosity, made from synthetic bioceramics like hydroxyapatite and tricalcium phosphate, allowing for tailored porosity and bioresorbability, reducing contamination risks and enhancing tissue integration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If animal origin materials are used for nasal implants, then biocompatibility is improved, but contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material origin parameter from animal to synthetic, specifically using hydroxyapatite and tricalcium phosphate. These synthetic bioceramics maintain biocompatibility while eliminating contamination risks associated with animal origin materials, as they are produced through controlled chemical synthesis processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material structures combining different bioceramic phases (hydroxyapatite and tricalcium phosphate) with controlled porosity. This composite approach allows tuning of both biocompatibility and degradation properties while maintaining synthetic origin to avoid contamination.
2Reliability
If animal origin materials are used for nasal implants, then biocompatibility is improved, but scar tissue formation and inflammatory reactions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material composition parameter to synthetic bioceramics with specific chemical stoichiometry and controlled porosity. These parameters are optimized to promote tissue integration while minimizing foreign body reactions, scar tissue formation, and inflammation that occur with animal origin materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces controlled macroporosity (pores with diameters between 10-100 micrometers) in the synthetic bioceramic structure. This porous architecture facilitates tissue ingrowth and vascularization, promoting biointegration and reducing foreign body reactions while maintaining mechanical integrity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If synthetic materials are used for nasal implants, then contamination risk is reduced, but controlled macroporosity for tissue integration is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs porous synthetic bioceramic materials with specifically controlled macropore structures. The pore diameters are controlled between 10-100 micrometers, and porosity is maintained between 30-70%, achieving optimal balance between tissue integration capability and mechanical strength while maintaining synthetic origin.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent precisely controls multiple manufacturing parameters including pore size distribution, porosity percentage, and ceramic composition ratios. These parameter optimizations enable the synthetic material to achieve controlled macroporosity that facilitates tissue integration while maintaining contamination-free synthetic origin.
4Reliability
If high porosity is achieved for tissue integration, then tissue colonization is improved, but mechanical strength decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs porous synthetic bioceramic materials with specifically controlled macropore structures. The pore diameters are controlled between 10-100 micrometers, and porosity is maintained between 30-70%, achieving optimal balance between tissue integration capability and mechanical strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material structures combining different bioceramic phases (hydroxyapatite and tricalcium phosphate) with controlled porosity. This composite approach allows tuning of both biocompatibility and degradation properties while maintaining mechanical integrity through synergistic material combinations.
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 implant provides a biointegratable and potentially bioresorbable solution with controlled macroporosity, facilitating rapid tissue colonization, homogeneous resorption, and tissue regeneration, while minimizing contamination risks and adapting to individual anatomical forms.
Implementation Method 1
said nasal implant obtained by additive manufacturing
Implementation Method 2
the biocompatible materials may also be bioresorbable, that is to say they may be assimilated by the organism
Data Source
AI summary
Nasal implant obtained by additive manufacturing, comprising a main portion and a return portion connected by an intermediate portion, the main and return portions forming an angle of between 25° and 90°,said implant is made from a biocompatible ceramic of synthetic origin;said implant has an average macroporosity characterized by:a density of material of between 20% and 95% by volume, said density of material being higher in said intermediate portion than in said main portion;cavities defining sections of cavities, said sections of cavities each having a diameter of between 0.3 mm and 1 mm;said sections of cavities each having an area and a form substantially equal over the entire implant.