Composite Bone Implant with Flexible Connector for Fracture Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for treating bone fractures and fortifying bones are inadequate, as external stabilizers interfere with daily activities and require extensive rehabilitation, while internal stabilizers necessitate invasive surgery and have limitations in tensile loading capacity, and existing bone cements are brittle and unsuitable for many applications.
Innovation Solution
A novel composite implant comprising a containment bag, reinforcing elements, and an injectable matrix material, which can be assembled minimally invasively within the bone to provide structural reinforcement, tailored for specific needs, and is designed to be tough and non-brittle, allowing for custom-tailored mechanical properties and reduced impact on soft tissue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If external stabilizers (casts, braces) are used to treat bone fractures, then bone stabilization is achieved, but patient daily activities are interfered with and extensive rehabilitation is required
Solution Approach 1:
The implant system is divided into separate components: an intramedullary rod, an intracortical rod, and a connector, which can be assembled and adjusted to provide stabilization while allowing greater mobility and activity compared to external casts
Solution Approach 2:
The connector acts as an intermediary element that joins the intramedullary and intracortical rods, creating a unified stabilization system that distributes mechanical loads more effectively, enabling patients to engage in daily activities with reduced restriction
2Strength
If internal stabilizers (screws, bone plates, intramedullary nails) are used to treat bone fractures, then effective bone stabilization is achieved, but invasive surgery is required and additional trauma is caused
Solution Approach 1:
The implant incorporates a flexible connector with elastomeric or polymeric materials that can dynamically adapt to bone movement and healing processes, providing stabilization through elastic deformation rather than rigid fixation, thereby reducing surgical trauma and allowing for less invasive procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The connector is made from composite materials combining metal reinforcement with elastomeric or polymeric matrices, creating a structure that provides mechanical strength while being more biocompatible and less traumatic to surrounding tissues compared to traditional metal implants
3Strength
If bone cements are used to stabilize fractures, then bone reinforcement is achieved, but the material is brittle and cannot withstand significant tensile loading
Solution Approach 1:
The connector uses composite construction with metal cores reinforced by elastomeric or polymeric materials, creating a material system that combines the strength of metals with the flexibility and tensile resistance of polymers, eliminating the brittleness issue of traditional bone cements
Solution Approach 2:
The material properties of the connector are specifically engineered to have high elongation and tensile strength characteristics, changing the mechanical parameters from brittle to ductile behavior, allowing the material to withstand significant tensile loading while maintaining bone reinforcement
4Force
If existing bone cements are used, then compressive loading is withstood, but catastrophic failure creates shards that are difficult to remove
Solution Approach 1:
The connector material is engineered with high elongation properties and ductile failure characteristics, changing the failure mode from catastrophic shattering to gradual deformation, allowing the implant to be gradually removed or repositioned without creating harmful shards
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible, ductile nature of the connector material converts the potential harm of failure into a benefit, allowing the implant to deform gradually under excessive load rather than shatter, and enabling easier removal or adjustment of the implant without creating dangerous fragments
Data Source
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AI summary
A composite comprising: a barrier, said barrier being configured to selectively pass water, and said barrier being degradable in the presence of water; a matrix material for disposition within said barrier, wherein said matrix material has a flowable state and a set state, and wherein said matrix material is degradable in the presence of water; and at least one reinforcing element for disposition within said barrier and integration with said matrix material, wherein said at least one reinforcing element is degradable in the presence of water, and further wherein, upon the degradation of said at least one reinforcing element in the presence of water, provides an agent for modulating the degradation rate of said matrix material in the presence of water.