Galvanic Implant Using Cobalt-Titanium Couple for Antimicrobial Ion Elution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current implant devices struggle to achieve antimicrobial properties in vivo without requiring external operations or treatments, leading to increased patient burden due to potential microbial growth and infection.
Innovation Solution
An implant device composed of a cobalt-based alloy and a titanium-based alloy, where the two materials form an electric circuit in vivo, allowing for the elution of antimicrobial ions to impart antimicrobial properties to the surface and surrounding area, eliminating the need for external treatments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an implant device is used without antimicrobial properties, then the device structure remains simple, but microbial growth and infection occur requiring additional surgery
Solution Approach 1:
The implant device combines two biocompatible metals with different electrode potentials (anode and cathode materials) to create a galvanic couple. This composite structure generates electric current through galvanic corrosion, which eliminates bacteria on contact without requiring external power sources or complex control systems, thus achieving antimicrobial functionality while maintaining relatively simple device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant device utilizes the body's own electrolyte environment to generate electric current through the galvanic couple formed by the two metals. The system is self-powered, requiring no external power sources, batteries, or complex control mechanisms. The antimicrobial action is automatic and continuous as long as the implant is in place, significantly reducing device complexity compared to externally powered antimicrobial systems.
2Reliability
If externally powered antimicrobial systems are used, then antimicrobial effectiveness is achieved, but patient burden increases due to external operations and treatments
Solution Approach 1:
The implant device is completely self-contained and self-powered, utilizing the galvanic potential difference between two biocompatible metals to generate continuous electric current for bacterial elimination. No external power sources, batteries, wiring, or control systems are needed. The device automatically activates upon implantation using the body's natural electrolyte environment, eliminating all external operations and treatments required by conventional antimicrobial systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates the need for external power sources and control systems from the antimicrobial system. By incorporating the power generation function directly into the implant structure through the galvanic couple, all external equipment, terminals, and operational interventions are removed, significantly reducing patient burden while maintaining effective antimicrobial action.
3Reliability
If antimicrobial metals are used alone without galvanic coupling, then biocompatibility is maintained, but antimicrobial effectiveness is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the electrochemical parameters of the implant by combining two metals with different standard electrode potentials. This creates a galvanic couple where the anode undergoes controlled corrosion to generate electric current. The galvanic corrosion, which would normally be harmful, is harnessed as the mechanism for producing the antimicrobial electric current, transforming a potential harm into a beneficial function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the harmful effect of galvanic corrosion into a beneficial antimicrobial mechanism. The electric current generated by the galvanic couple, which would normally indicate material degradation, is used to eliminate bacteria on contact. The corrosion process itself becomes the power source for the antimicrobial function, turning what was previously a harmful byproduct into the core mechanism for infection prevention.
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 implant device effectively achieves antimicrobial properties upon implantation, significantly reducing patient burden by preventing microbial growth and infection without additional surgical interventions.
Implementation Method 1
An implant device made of a cobalt-based alloy and a titanium-based alloy, wherein two kinds of materials forming an electric circuit in vivo are used, and ions of an antimicrobial metal are eluted under a presence of an electrolyte
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(a)~3(c)
Figure 4(a)~5(c)
AI summary
An antimicrobial implant device consisting of a rod (2) comprising a second material and a ring (3) comprising a first material that is fit on at least a part of a circumference of the rod (2), wherein at least a surface of the first material comprises an antimicrobial metal; at least a surface of the second material is nobler than the first material; an electric circuit is formed between the first material and the second material when the device is implanted in vivo for use; and ions of the antimicrobial metal are eluted from the first material under a presence of an electrolyte to impart an antimicrobial property to a surface and/or a surrounding area of the first material.