ECM Sheet Devices with Retained Muscle Tissue for Suture Strength
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ECM sheet devices for surgical applications lack sufficient mechanical strength, leading to higher failure rates and limited use in procedures requiring strong suture retention, despite their advantages in mimicking mammalian tissue for wound repair.
Innovation Solution
Retaining residual muscle tissue during the processing of ECM devices, such as urinary bladder matrix, and differentially scraping it to create reinforced ECM sheets that can be layered and configured for enhanced mechanical properties, eliminating the need for additional reagents or additives.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If muscle tissue is removed during ECM processing to create cleaner ECM sheets, then the ECM device purity is improved, but the mechanical strength deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by selectively retaining muscle tissue in specific regions of the ECM device. The muscle tissue is retained in the central region to provide mechanical strength, while the peripheral regions are cleaned to maintain purity. This regional differentiation resolves the contradiction by allowing both pure ECM areas and structurally supportive muscle-containing areas to coexist in the same device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure by combining cleaned ECM sheets with muscle tissue-containing ECM sheets. The composite device layers include both muscle-retaining sheets (for strength) and muscle-delaminated sheets (for purity), thereby integrating the benefits of both approaches and resolving the contradiction between purity and mechanical strength.
2Strength
If multiple layers of ECM sheets are stacked to increase mechanical strength, then the strength is improved, but the conformability to underlying tissue deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses local quality by creating heterogeneous layer compositions within the multi-layer structure. Different layers contain varying amounts of muscle tissue - some layers are fully cleaned while others retain muscle tissue. This local variation allows the device to maintain overall structural strength while individual layers remain thin and conformable to the underlying tissue surface.
3Strength
If muscle tissue is retained in ECM devices to increase mechanical strength, then the strength is improved, but the surgical application versatility deteriorates due to physician hesitation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves physician hesitation by applying local quality - muscle tissue is retained only in specific regions (central areas) where mechanical strength is most needed, while peripheral regions are fully cleaned. This creates a balanced device that provides enhanced strength where required without the drawbacks of widespread muscle tissue retention, making physicians more willing to use the device in various surgical applications including suture retention and defect correction.
Data Source
AI summary
Described are devices and associated methods of producing extracellular matrix (ECM) sheet devices with strengthened mechanical properties due to the selective retention of muscle tissue layers during processing.