Autonomously Growing Implantable Device via Biodegradable Core
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medical implants with fixed sizes restrict growth in children, leading to complications such as growth restriction, repeated surgical procedures, and poor outcomes in pediatric surgical repairs, as they fail to accommodate increasing tissue dimensions over time.
Innovation Solution
An autonomously growing implantable device featuring a biodegradable inner core within an outer element, where the inner core's degradation allows the outer element to elongate or expand, accommodating native tissue growth, thereby providing customizable and sustained support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a fixed-size implant is used, then the device provides stable structural support, but it restricts tissue growth and requires repeated surgical procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The implant transitions from a static fixed-size structure to a dynamic growing structure through the degradation of the biodegradable core. The device automatically adjusts its dimensions over time as the core degrades, allowing it to accommodate tissue growth without requiring surgical intervention. This resolves the contradiction by making the support structure adaptable while maintaining strength through the progressive transfer of load to the surrounding tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant utilizes changes in physical parameters (size, shape, mechanical properties) through the controlled degradation of the biodegradable core material. As the core degrades, its mechanical properties change from providing full support to gradually transferring load, enabling the implant to adapt to growing tissue while maintaining structural integrity throughout the process.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a biodegradable annuloplasty ring is used, then the device accommodates tissue growth, but it provides only temporary support until complete degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The implant employs a composite structure with a biodegradable core and a non-biodegradable outer element. This composite design allows the core to degrade and accommodate growth while the outer element maintains structural support indefinitely. The combination resolves the contradiction by providing both adaptability through degradation and prolonged duration through the persistent outer structure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the inner core degrades completely, then the outer element can elongate to accommodate growth, but the device loses structural integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The composite construction with a non-biodegradable outer element ensures that structural integrity is maintained even as the inner core degrades completely. The outer element provides continuous mechanical support while allowing elongation, resolving the contradiction by decoupling the degradation function from the structural support function.
Solution Approach 2:
The device dynamically transitions its mechanical properties as the core degrades, with the outer element progressively bearing more load. This dynamic load transfer maintains structural integrity throughout the degradation process while enabling the necessary elongation, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and strength.
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 device enables durable surgical repairs by guiding tissue growth, reducing the need for repeated interventions and minimizing complications, as demonstrated by controlled valve growth and bone elongation in ex vivo studies.
Implementation Method 1
Contacting the inner core with body fluid at the implantation site initiates degradation of the inner core. Degradation of the inner core permits elongation of the outer element from the first length to a second length that is longer than the first length.
Implementation Method 2
polycondensation of an equimolar ratio of glycerol and sebacic acid at 120°C for 8 hours under dry nitrogen and for 16 hours in vacuum to form a pre-polymer
Implementation Method 3
curing the pre-polymer in a vacuum at a temperature of 140°C to 160°C for 40 to 100 hours
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
An implantable, autonomously growing medical device is disclosed. The device may have an outer, braided outer element that holds an inner core. Degradation and/or softening of the inner core permits the outer element to elongate, allowing the device to grow with surrounding tissue. The growth profile of the medical device can be controlled by altering the shape/material/cure conditions of the inner core, as well as the geometry of the outer element.