Expandable Amnion Membrane With Slits for Wound Healing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Non-healing wounds pose a challenge due to impaired cytokine release and angiogenesis, and existing regenerative therapies face limitations with embryonic stem cells, including ethical concerns and limited availability, while placental membranes are restricted by small supply and high cost.
Innovation Solution
The method involves injecting amniotic fluid-derived cells around the wound and using an expandable placental membrane with slits to create a mesh-like pattern, which provides scaffolding for cell growth, prevents infection, and reduces water and heat loss, promoting wound healing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If placental membranes are used for wound treatment, then wound healing is promoted through growth factors and scaffolding, but supply is limited and cost is high
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the placental membrane into separate functional components: amniotic membrane cells are harvested and cultured independently, then applied to wounds on demand. This segmentation allows unlimited cell production from a single membrane source, resolving the supply limitation while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates copies of amniotic membrane cells through in vitro culture expansion. A single placental membrane yields a finite number of cells, but these cells can be cultured and multiplied to produce unlimited therapeutic cell populations, effectively copying the therapeutic agent without requiring additional placentas.
2Area of stationary object
If intact placental membrane is used, then wound coverage is provided, but the membrane cannot expand to cover large wound surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane is segmented into individual cells that are detached and cultured. These cell populations can be applied as suspensions or seeded onto expandable scaffolds, allowing the treatment to cover large wound surfaces that would be impossible with intact membranes of limited size.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a two-dimensional intact membrane to a three-dimensional cell suspension or seeded scaffold system. This dimensional change allows the therapeutic cells to distribute and expand across large wound surfaces, overcoming the area limitation of intact membranes.
3Reliability
If embryonic stem cells are used for regenerative therapy, then cell-based wound healing is achieved, but ethical concerns and limited sample size arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses amniotic membrane cells from term placentas, which are normally discarded after birth. This disposable source material eliminates ethical concerns associated with embryonic stem cells while providing abundant, easily obtainable cells for therapeutic use.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the source parameter from embryonic to postnatal amniotic cells. This parameter change resolves ethical issues while maintaining the regenerative capabilities needed for effective wound healing therapy.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure generally pertains to methods of treating non-healing wounds. Specifically, the method includes injecting amnion fluid derived cells along the periphery of the wound. The wound is then treated with a placental membrane material including a plurality of slits for increasing the membranes capacity to expand. The slits produce a mesh-like pattern in the membrane material. The amniotic derived cells deliver to the wound electrolytes, growth factors, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, amino acids, lactate, pyruvate, enzymes, hormones and other factors useful in wound repair. The membrane material provides a scaffolding structure supporting cell growth, prevents microbial infection and decreases the rate of passive evaporative water and heat loss. The combination of the amniotic derived cells and the membrane material protects the wound and promotes cell regeneration.