Thermally Crosslinkable SIBS Elastomer for Heart Valve Prostheses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current biomedical materials, such as polyurethane and silicone rubber, face issues like degradation and calcification when implanted in the human body, while thermoplastic elastomers like SIBS and HSBC suffer from creep deformation under long-term stress, limiting their biomedical applications.
Innovation Solution
A thermally crosslinkable elastic material synthesized by anionic polymerization, comprising a saturated block copolymer with vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon and conjugated diene segments, which can be chemically crosslinked to form a stable, non-polar material with improved mechanical properties and biocompatibility, suitable for long-term implantation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If polyurethane and silicone rubber are used as biomedical materials, then they can be widely applied in implantable medical devices, but they undergo degradation and calcification after long-term implantation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses SIBS block copolymer as a base material and incorporates silane crosslinking agents to create a composite material system. The SIBS provides biocompatibility and elasticity, while the silane groups enable thermal crosslinking to form a stable three-dimensional network structure, combining the advantages of both materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical structure parameter by introducing thermally crosslinkable functional groups (silane groups) into the SIBS polymer chain. This transformation converts the thermoplastic SIBS into a thermosetting crosslinked structure, fundamentally altering the material's long-term stability and resistance to degradation and calcification.
2Reliability
If SIBS thermoplastic elastomer is used, then it exhibits biological inertness and excellent stability, but it creeps and deforms under long-term stress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state and molecular structure of SIBS by introducing crosslinking. The linear polymer chains of thermoplastic SIBS are transformed into a three-dimensional crosslinked network structure through silane crosslinking, converting the material from thermoplastic to thermosetting, thereby eliminating creep while preserving biological stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The crosslinking creates a three-dimensional network structure that distributes stress uniformly throughout the material, preventing the progressive deformation characteristic of creep. The crosslinked structure acts as a rigid framework that maintains dimensional stability under long-term stress.
3Ease of manufacture
If HSBC thermoplastic elastomer is used, then it can be processed as thermoplastic with rubber elasticity, but it also creeps and deforms under long-term stress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the same crosslinking strategy to HSBC elastomer, introducing silane functional groups that enable thermal crosslinking. This transforms the thermoplastic HSBC into a thermosetting crosslinked structure, eliminating creep while the crosslinking process itself can be controlled to maintain manufacturing feasibility.
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 exhibits enhanced stability, mechanical strength, and biocompatibility, overcoming the limitations of existing materials by maintaining shape and function under long-term stress, suitable for applications like heart valves and intraocular lenses.
Implementation Method 1
The polymer capable of forming elastic material by thermal crosslinking... can be chemically crosslinked to form a stable, non-polar material with improved mechanical properties
Implementation Method 2
A thermally crosslinkable elastic material synthesized by anionic polymerization, comprising a saturated block copolymer with vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon and conjugated diene segments
Implementation Method 3
The elastic material has no unstable double bonds in the molecular structure after selective catalytic hydrogenation
Data Source
AI summary
A polymer for heart valve prosthesis that is capable of forming elastic material by thermal crosslinking is disclosed. The elastic material includes polymers A used as hard segments and a polymer B used as a soft segment, and the chemical formula is: (Am)i(Bn)j(Af)k or (Am−Bn)pX(Bn−Af)q; the polymers A are polymers formed by polymerization of at least one of vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon and a thermally crosslinking monomer, or polymers formed by copolymerization of at least one of vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon and the thermally crosslinking monomer and conjugated diene; the polymer B is a conjugated diene polymer, or a polymer formed by copolymerization of at least one of vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon and the thermally crosslinking monomer and conjugated diene; at least one of the polymer A and the polymer B contains the thermally crosslinking monomer.