Gallium Oxide Coating on Dental Implants to Inhibit Biofilm

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Solution Overview

Problem

Medical devices, particularly dental implants, face challenges with biocompatibility and infection risk due to foreign body reactions and biofilm formation, which can lead to adverse health effects and implant failure.

Innovation Solution

A medical device with a surface layer comprising gallium oxide (Ga2O3) is developed, which is applied using thin film deposition techniques, providing an antibacterial and aesthetic surface that inhibits biofilm formation and enhances tissue healing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a medical device surface is modified to enhance tissue attachment and healing, then the biocompatibility and tissue integration are improved, but the risk of foreign body reaction and infection may increase due to surface complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue attachment and healingVSAvoidforeign body reaction and infection risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies gallium oxide coating with specific thickness parameters (1-10 micrometers) and controlled gallium ion release rates to achieve optimal balance between tissue compatibility and antibacterial efficacy. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction by tuning the coating properties to simultaneously improve tissue attachment while preventing infection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite structure combining the base medical device material with a gallium oxide surface layer. This composite approach allows the bulk material to provide structural integrity while the gallium oxide coating provides enhanced biocompatibility and antibacterial properties, thus improving tissue integration without increasing infection risk.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If gallium oxide coating is applied to prevent biofilm formation and infection, then the antibacterial effect is improved, but the complexity of the manufacturing process increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebiofilm formation and bacterial growthVSAvoidcoating deposition process

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs physical vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition techniques to apply gallium oxide coatings, replacing complex chemical coating processes. These deposition methods provide precise control over coating thickness and uniformity while simplifying the manufacturing process, thus achieving effective antibacterial protection without significantly increasing manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the gallium oxide layer thickness is increased to enhance antibacterial effect, then the protection against infection is improved, but the aesthetic appearance and surface properties may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinfection protectionVSAvoidsurface appearance and properties

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the gallium oxide layer thickness within a specific range (1-10 micrometers) to achieve the optimal balance between antibacterial efficacy and aesthetic appearance. This parameter control ensures that the coating is thick enough to provide effective infection protection while remaining thin enough to maintain the device's surface properties and visual appeal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

The gallium oxide surface layer effectively reduces the risk of infection and improves tissue healing, preventing bacterial growth and biofilm formation, thus enhancing the long-term functionality and aesthetic appeal of medical devices like dental implants.

Implementation Method 1

A medical device surface having a layer incorporating gallium oxide has been shown to be effective against various bacterial strains, and was shown to inhibit biofilm formation in vitro

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIon release:

Implementation Method 2

Gallium oxide can be deposited using thin film deposition techniques, including atomic layer deposition

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThin film deposition: Physical Vapour Deposition

Data Source

PatentEP2830673B1A medical device having a surface comprising gallium oxide

Publication Date: 2021.06.23 DENTSPLY IH AB

Figure 1~2

AI summary

A medical device intended for contact with living tissue comprises a substrate having a surface, which surface comprises a layer comprising gallium oxide. A layer comprising a gallium oxide has been shown to inhibit biofilm formation on the surface of the medical device, which may reduce the risk for infection e.g. around a dental implant. A method of producing the medical device comprises: a) providing a substrate having a surface; and applying a gallium compound onto said surface to form a layer, preferably using a thin film deposition technique.