Dry Collagen Fiber Tissue Preservation via Gradient Dehydration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for preserving animal-derived collagen fiber tissues for bioprostheses, such as those using aldehyde solutions or lyophilization, face issues like toxicity, morphological deformation, high costs, and difficulties in rehydration, necessitating improved methods for maintaining tissue flexibility and controlling water content for effective sterilization.
Innovation Solution
A method involving rinsing crosslinked collagen fiber tissues with an isotonic solution, followed by dehydration in a non-aqueous alcoholic solution and subsequent gradient saccharide solutions, then drying and hermetic packaging for sterilization, which results in a flexible, residue-free, and controllably hydrated dry tissue material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If glutaraldehyde is used for preservation, then tissue sterility and structural stability are improved, but tissue toxicity and calcification risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes glutaraldehyde from the preservation system entirely, replacing it with a non-toxic preservation method that uses controlled dehydration and sterilization processes to achieve the same protective functions without harmful residues
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a single-use preservation protocol where tissues are preserved in a controlled manner and then sterilized, eliminating the need for long-term toxic preservative exposure and multiple rinsing cycles required by glutaraldehyde methods
2Duration of action of stationary object
If lyophilization is used for drying, then tissue preservation is improved, but tissue toughness and rehydration speed deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the drying parameters by controlling water content to a specific range (10-25%) rather than complete drying, and uses non-aqueous solvents to replace water gradually, preventing the formation of brittle structures while maintaining preservation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary dehydration using non-aqueous solvents before final drying, which prevents ice crystal formation and structural damage that would occur with direct freeze-drying, thereby maintaining tissue toughness
3Reliability
If complete drying is applied, then sterilization effectiveness is improved, but tissue flexibility and rehydration difficulty worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the water content parameter to a specific range (10-25%) that balances sterilization effectiveness with tissue flexibility, avoiding complete drying while ensuring sufficient moisture removal for safe sterilization
4Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple rinsing cycles are used to remove glutaraldehyde, then tissue toxicity is reduced, but production time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates glutaraldehyde from the process entirely, removing the need for multiple rinsing cycles and significantly reducing production time and complexity while maintaining tissue safety
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a streamlined preservation and sterilization protocol that requires minimal processing steps, reducing both time and operational complexity compared to traditional glutaraldehyde methods
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 method produces biocompatible, flexible, and mechanically robust dry collagen fiber tissues that can be rehydrated quickly, with reduced toxicity and calcification potential, suitable for mass production and safe clinical use, while maintaining the original tissue structure and properties.
Implementation Method 1
immersing the rinsed biological tissue in a non-aqueous alcoholic solution for dehydration
Implementation Method 2
successively immersing the biological tissue that has been dehydrated with the non-aqueous alcoholic solution in saccharide solutions of increasing concentrations for gradient dehydration
Implementation Method 3
taking out and drying of the gradient dehydrated tissue material
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A dry animal-derived collagen fiber tissue material and preparation method and bioprosthesis thereof are disclosed. The preparation method includes: 1) rinsing of an animal-derived collagen fiber tissue material that has been treated with a crosslinking agent; 2) immersion of the rinsed tissue material in a non-aqueous alcoholic solution for dehydration; 3) successive immersion of the tissue material that has been dehydrated with the non-aqueous alcoholic solution in saccharide solutions of different gradients of concentrations for gradient dehydration; 4) taking out and drying of the gradient dehydrated tissue material; and 5) hermetic packaging of the dried tissue material and sterilization. The preparation method is simple and allows the use of easily-available low-cost materials, resulting in lower costs. In addition, it can reduce the toxicity caused by a residue of the aldehyde crosslinking agent. The prepared biological tissue material is pliable and tough, less prone to bending or warping, has a water content that can be well controlled and better biocompatibility due to absence of polyhydric alcohol residues.