Collagenase Injection for Adhesive Capsulitis Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for adhesive capsulitis, or frozen shoulder, are often lengthy and ineffective, leading to significant pain and decreased shoulder motion, impacting quality of life.
Innovation Solution
Collagenase injections are administered into the shoulder capsule to break down collagenous adhesions, improving mobility and reducing pain, using a formulation of collagenase derived from Clostridium histolyticum and purified by chromatographic techniques, typically in a saline carrier, with optional repeat injections at 4-6 week intervals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If standard orthopedic care methods (physical therapy, cortisone injections, manipulation under anesthesia, shoulder arthroscopy) are used to treat adhesive capsulitis, then treatment is provided, but the treatment is lengthy and ineffective, leading to significant pain and decreased shoulder motion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of treatment mechanism from mechanical/chemical (physical therapy, cortisone, manipulation) to enzymatic (collagenase). Collagenase specifically targets and degrades collagenous adhesions in the shoulder capsule, providing a more direct and effective treatment that reduces both treatment duration and improves reliability of outcome.
2Reliability
If collagenase injections are administered to break down collagenous adhesions, then shoulder motion is significantly improved and pain is reduced, but the treatment requires precise delivery to the collagenous adhesions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by injecting collagenase into the joint space or subcapsular space rather than directly into the adhesions. This intermediary delivery method allows the enzyme to diffuse and act on the collagenous adhesions effectively, reducing the complexity of precise target delivery while maintaining high treatment effectiveness.
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
Significantly improves shoulder motion and reduces pain in patients with adhesive capsulitis, with the highest dose trending as the most effective, offering a safer and more effective treatment option compared to standard orthopedic care methods.
Implementation Method 1
collagenase is an enzyme that has the specific ability to digest collagen
Implementation Method 2
collagenase injections are effective in lyse the collagenous adhesions in the shoulder capsule
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to the discovery that collagenase injections are effective in lyse the collagenous adhesions in the shoulder and treat the disorder, adhesive capsulitis. As such, the invention relates to methods of treating or preventing adhesive capsulitis, or frozen shoulder, in a patient in need of such treatment comprising injecting or otherwise delivering an effective amount of collagenase to the collagenous adhesions in the shoulder. The invention also relates to the use of collagenase in the manufacture of a medicament to treat adhesive capsulitis.