Flowable Micro-Porous Ceramic Particulate for Load-Bearing Bone Filler
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional porous ceramic bone grafts lack sufficient strength for load-bearing applications due to the trade-off between interconnected macroporosity for bone ingrowth and microporous strut porosity for protein and cell attachment, and are either flowable/non-porous or porous/non-flowable, limiting their use in both load-bearing and non-load bearing osseous defects.
Innovation Solution
A flowable biomedical ceramic particulate with a micro-porous surface and bulk structure that can self-lock under physiological loads, allowing for delivery without external force and forming a stable, load-bearing filler with interconnected particles for bone ingrowth and protein attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional porous ceramic bone grafts are made with interconnected macroporosity for bone ingrowth and microporous strut porosity for protein and cell attachment, then biological properties are improved, but strength is insufficient to bear physiological loads
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the porous ceramic structure into discrete particulate form, where individual particles maintain microporous structures for biological function while the collection of particles forms a macroscopic filler that can bear load through particle-to-particle contact and interlocking
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies different porosity characteristics at different scales: microporosity (0.1-50 μm) at the particle surface and subsurface for biological attachment, while the overall particle assembly provides macroscopic structural support. The particle size distribution (0.05-5 mm) creates interstitial spaces that facilitate bone ingrowth while maintaining bulk strength
2Reliability
If conventional porous ceramic bone grafts are made porous for bone ingrowth and protein attachment, then biological properties are improved, but they become non-flowable and cannot be easily delivered to the site
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the ceramic material into fine particulate form with controlled size distribution (0.05-5 mm), transforming it from a monolithic non-flowable structure into a flowable granular material that can be delivered through catheters or syringes while retaining the porous surface structure for biological function
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state parameter from solid monolithic form to particulate flowable form, while controlling particle size and porosity parameters to maintain both flowability and biological functionality. The microporous surface structure is preserved on each particle while the overall assembly flows like a granular material
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 the delivery and formation of a stable, load-bearing filler that supports bone growth and attachment, addressing the limitations of conventional ceramic bone grafts by maintaining biological properties and strength while allowing for easy delivery and integration into bone defects.
Implementation Method 1
at least some of the particles in the ceramic particulate have a micro-porous surface structure and/or a micro-porous sub-surface structure... facilitates surface attachment of proteins and cells
Implementation Method 2
micro-porous surface structure... pores with a modal diameter 0.1 μm ≦dmode≦50 μm
Implementation Method 3
the particles in the particulate come into intimate contact with each other and 'lock together' to form a stable, load-bearing filler
Implementation Method 4
When delivered to a space or void and subjected to a shearing stress or compressive force, the particles in the particulate come into intimate contact with each other
Data Source
AI summary
A bone replacement filler comprising a biomedical ceramic particulate, wherein the filler is able to flow without the application of an external shear stress or compressive force or under a relatively low shear stress or compressive force, but resists flow or does not flow when subjected to a higher shear stress or compressive force, and wherein at least some of the particles in the ceramic particulate have a micro-porous surface structure and/or a micro-porous sub-surface structure.