Disposable Hydrogel Compression Assembly for Sterile Tissue Scaffold Prep

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for compressing hydrogels are costly, time-consuming, prone to contamination, and risk damaging the graft, limiting production output and quality.

Innovation Solution

A fully disposable system comprising a hydrogel receptacle assembly, piston assembly, and flask for compressing and incubating hydrogels, using disposable components made of lightweight, biocompatible materials to reduce contamination and damage risks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If reusable compression devices are used, then device cost is reduced, but contamination risk increases and sterilization time is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontamination riskVSAvoidsterilization time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a fully disposable compression device consisting of a compression chamber, piston, and associated components that are discarded after single use. This eliminates the need for sterilization between uses, thereby eliminating contamination risk from previous users while avoiding any sterilization time delay. The disposable nature ensures each compression operation starts with a sterile, unused device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Manufacturing precision

If manual compression processes are used, then device complexity is reduced, but compression precision and consistency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompression precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual compression with an automated piston-driven mechanical system. The piston is driven by a motor or actuator that provides controlled, consistent compression force through the fluid medium. This mechanical automation ensures precise and repeatable compression parameters while maintaining relatively simple device structure through the use of basic mechanical components like pistons, chambers, and fluid couplings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Strength

If compression force is increased to improve robustness, then hydrogel mechanical strength is improved, but risk of graft damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical robustnessVSAvoidgraft damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses an incompressible fluid medium as an intermediary between the piston and the hydrogel graft. The piston compresses the fluid, which in turn transmits the compression force uniformly to the hydrogel through the chamber walls. This indirect compression mechanism distributes the force evenly, preventing localized stress concentrations that could damage the graft, while still achieving the necessary overall compression for mechanical robustness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Productivity

If reusable devices are used, then initial device cost is reduced, but cumulative sterilization and maintenance costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction outputVSAvoidworkflow time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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 system reduces costs, minimizes contamination, and enhances production output by eliminating the need for re-sterilization and ensuring sterile conditions, while maintaining the quality of the compressed hydrogel.

Implementation Method 1

the piston frame is configured to press the piston along the compression direction against the hydrogel layer residing in the graft frame so as to compress the hydrogel layer between the piston and the membrane bottom of the graft frame

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 2

a permeable membrane bottom connected to said frame member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPermeation: Permeation

Implementation Method 3

a porous filter plate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS12564662B2Disposable system and method for preparing a compressed hydrogel

Publication Date: 2026.03.03 CUTISS AG

AI summary

The invention relates to a fully disposable system for casting, polymerizing and compressing a hydrogel. The invention further relates to a method for producing a scaffold for the generation of artificial tissue products using said disposable system.