Expandable Cross-Linking Polymer Implant for Vertebral Anchoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current orthopedic implants face challenges in perfectly matching patient anatomy, requiring invasive surgeries and risking cement leakage during minimally invasive procedures, due to limited adjustability and stability.
Innovation Solution
A medical-grade implant with a porous architecture that can change configuration upon stimulation, allowing for expansion and anchoring without leakage, using cross-linkable polymers that transform from a soft to hard state in response to stimuli like temperature or UV radiation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If pre-shaped solid metal implants are used, then implant strength and structural stability are improved, but surgical invasiveness increases requiring open surgery with large incisions
Solution Approach 1:
The implant transitions from a solid pre-shaped state requiring open surgery to a liquid injectable state that can be delivered minimally invasively, then transforms in situ to provide the necessary structural strength. This dynamic state change allows the implant to be delivered through small incisions while maintaining final structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant material undergoes parameter changes from liquid to solid state, and from soft to hard configuration, enabling minimally invasive delivery followed by stable anchoring. The material properties are transformed after delivery to achieve the required mechanical strength and anchoring capability.
2Strength
If cement injection is used to fill voids and improve anchoring, then implant anchoring is improved, but risk of cement leakage increases causing spinal cord or nerve root compression
Solution Approach 1:
The implant acts as a flexible container that expands within the vertebral body to fill voids and provide anchoring. The expandable structure contains the implant material within the vertebral boundaries, preventing leakage into the spinal canal while providing sufficient expansion to anchor the implant securely.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant is nested within the vertebral body cavity, expanding to fill the available space while remaining contained within the vertebral boundaries. This nested configuration ensures the implant provides anchoring strength without protruding into the spinal canal or causing nerve compression.
3Ease of operation
If expandable implants are used, then surgical invasiveness is reduced allowing minimally invasive procedure, but implant design complexity and structural limitations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The implant utilizes parameter changes from liquid to solid state transformation to achieve expansion within the vertebral body. This phase change mechanism provides a relatively simple design compared to mechanical expansion systems, while enabling minimally invasive delivery and in situ configuration to match patient anatomy.
4Strength
If pre-shaped solid implants are used, then implant strength is improved, but adaptability to patient anatomy decreases requiring multiple implant sizes and shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The implant transitions from a fixed pre-shaped solid form to a liquid state that can be injected and then expands to conform to the specific anatomical cavity. This dynamic behavior allows a single implant design to adapt to varying patient anatomies while maintaining structural strength after expansion and solidification.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant material is delivered in a liquid state that can flow into and fill the specific anatomical cavity, then solidifies to match the unique geometry. This segmentation of the delivery process allows the implant to adapt to any patient anatomy without requiring multiple pre-shaped variants.
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
Enables precise anatomical fitting and secure anchoring with reduced risk of leakage, facilitating minimally invasive procedures and improving recovery times by providing a customizable and stable implant solution.
Implementation Method 1
cross-linkable polymers that transform from a soft to hard state in response to stimuli like temperature or UV radiation
Implementation Method 2
transform from a soft to hard state in response to stimuli like temperature
Implementation Method 3
porous architecture which allows the passage of liquids
Data Source
Figure 1A~3
Figure 4A~4B
Figure 4C~4D
AI summary
The present invention relates to implants comprising a deformable body formed of a polymer comprising functional groups capable of cross-linking to form a cross-link; said body provided in a first configuration which is cross-linked to a second configuration upon application of a selected stimuli; wherein said selected stimuli causes said cross-linking of said functional groups.