Double-Structured Tissue Implant for Cartilage Repair

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current tissue implants for cartilage defects lack stability, ease of manipulation, and prolonged shelf-life, with uncontrolled porosity and density leading to instability and poor handling during surgery, and require multiple steps for preparation, making them impractical for routine use.

Innovation Solution

A double-structured tissue implant comprising a primary scaffold with uniformly sized, vertically oriented pores and a secondary scaffold formed within the primary scaffold using a collagen solution and non-ionic surfactant, processed through precipitation, lyophilization, and dehydrothermal treatment, providing enhanced stability, wetting properties, and the ability to incorporate cells or drugs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a porous collagen matrix is used for tissue implantation, then cell adhesion and growth are promoted, but the implant lacks stability and shrinks or swells during handling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimplant stabilityVSAvoidhandling difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The implant is divided into two distinct scaffolds: a primary scaffold providing structural stability and a secondary scaffold providing porosity for cell adhesion. This segmentation allows each component to fulfill its specific function without compromising the other, resolving the contradiction between stability and cell compatibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite structure where a collagen-based primary scaffold is combined with a porous secondary scaffold. This composite material approach integrates the stabilizing properties of collagen with the cell-friendly porosity of the secondary structure, eliminating the shrinkage/swelling issues while maintaining biocompatibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If porosity is increased to enhance cell adhesion, then cell growth is improved, but the implant becomes unstable and difficult to manipulate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell adhesion capabilityVSAvoidstructural stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The functional separation divides the implant into a structural primary scaffold and a porous secondary scaffold. The primary scaffold maintains structural integrity and stability, while the secondary scaffold provides the high porosity needed for cell adhesion, thus resolving the contradiction between structural stability and cell adhesion capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the implant have different properties: the primary scaffold region provides structural stability with lower porosity, while the secondary scaffold region provides high porosity for cell adhesion. This local differentiation of properties allows the implant to simultaneously achieve both structural stability and excellent cell adhesion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If multiple preparation steps are used to improve implant properties, then implant quality is enhanced, but the preparation time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimplant qualityVSAvoidpreparation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The double scaffold structure is pre-assembled and stabilized before implantation. The primary and secondary scaffolds are combined in advance to form a stable composite structure that maintains its properties during storage and handling, eliminating the need for complex on-site preparation steps and reducing preparation time while maintaining high implant quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 double-structured implant offers improved stability, resistance to shrinkage and dissolution, extended shelf-life, and rapid wetting, allowing for easier surgical delivery and manipulation, while maintaining porosity for cell adhesion and growth, and can be preloaded with cells or drugs for enhanced tissue repair.

Implementation Method 1

a secondary scaffold formed within the primary scaffold using a collagen solution and non-ionic surfactant

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurfactant: Surfactant

Implementation Method 2

processed through precipitation, lyophilization, and dehydrothermal treatment

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLyophilization: Freeze Drying

Implementation Method 3

processed through precipitation, lyophilization, and dehydrothermal treatment

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDehydrothermal treatment: Heat Treatment

Data Source

PatentUS8070827B2Method for use of a double-structured tissue implant for treatment of tissue defects

Publication Date: 2011.12.06 OCUGEN INC

AI summary

A method for use of a double-structured tissue implant or a secondary scaffold stand alone implant for treatment of tissue defects. The double-structured tissue implant comprising a primary scaffold and a secondary scaffold consisting of a soluble collagen solution in combination with a non-ionic surfactant generated and positioned within the primary scaffold. A stand alone secondary scaffold implant or unit.