Expandable Bone Mesh Implant for Spinal Defect Conformability

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional bone grafts and implants are limited in their ability to conform to specific bone defects, provide mechanical support, and facilitate bone regeneration due to their fixed shapes and porosity, which hinders effective treatment of complex spinal conditions like herniated discs and fractures.

Innovation Solution

A bone implant featuring a customizable mesh that encloses bone material, with adjustable pore sizes and elasticities to allow cellular infiltration, enabling flexible adaptation to various bone defect sizes and shapes, and a kit and method for filling and implanting this mesh at a surgical site.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional bone grafts and implants with fixed shapes are used, then they provide structural support, but they cannot conform to specific bone defects of varying sizes and shapes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconformability to bone defectVSAvoidimplant customization

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mesh implant transitions from a compressed, low-profile state during insertion to an expanded, three-dimensional configuration at the implant site, allowing it to adapt dynamically to the bone defect geometry. This dynamic transformation enables a single implant design to conform to various defect sizes and shapes without requiring multiple customized implants.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The implant's physical parameters (volume, shape, porosity) are changed after deployment through expansion and cellular infiltration. The mesh structure allows parameter adjustment to match the specific bone defect characteristics, providing adaptability while maintaining a standardized initial implant design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Strength

If cortical bone grafts are used, then they provide mechanical support, but they remodel slowly due to limited porosity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical supportVSAvoidremodeling time

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The mesh implant employs a porous structure with interconnected pores that facilitate rapid cellular infiltration and vascularization. This porosity accelerates the remodeling process by allowing osteogenic cells to migrate throughout the implant matrix, while the mesh framework maintains mechanical support during the healing process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The implant combines a porous mesh structure with bone graft material, creating a composite that provides both immediate mechanical support and enhanced remodeling capability. The mesh framework maintains structural integrity while the porous architecture promotes rapid biological integration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Duration of action of stationary object

If bone substitute materials are used, then they are quickly remodeled, but they cannot provide immediate mechanical support

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveremodeling speedVSAvoidmechanical support

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

4Strength

If metal implants are used to replace injured bone, then they provide immediate mechanical support, but they cause stress shielding and decreased bone density

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical supportVSAvoidstress shielding

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The implant's mechanical properties are designed to match bone tissue more closely than metal implants, with a moduli of elasticity that reduces stress shielding. The porous structure and gradual remodeling allow for more physiological stress distribution, preventing the harmful stress shielding effect associated with rigid metal implants.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20250090326A1Mesh for enclosing bone material and methods of use

Publication Date: 2025.03.20 WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC INC

AI summary

A bone implant for enclosing bone material is provided. The bone implant comprises a mesh having one or more pores, an inner surface and an outer surface opposing the inner surface, the inner surface configured to receive a bone material when the inner surface of the mesh is in an open configuration; and a plurality of projections disposed on or in at least a portion of the inner surface of the mesh, the outer surface of the mesh or both the inner surface and outer surface of the mesh. Each of the plurality of projections have a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end contacting the inner surface of the mesh, the outer surface of the mesh or both the inner surface and outer surface of the mesh, the first end having a first surface area larger than a second surface area of the second end and larger than a surface area of the one or more pores of the mesh, the second end extending from at least the portion of the inner surface, the outer surface of the mesh or both the inner surface and outer surface of the mesh and configured to engage a section of the inner surface of the mesh or a section of the outer surface of the mesh or both sections of the inner and outer surfaces of the mesh in a closed configuration so as to enclose the bone material.