Hyaluronic Acid Bone Morphogenetic Protein Joint Injection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for osteoarthritis (OA) lack effective methods to slow or reverse the disease progression and provide long-lasting pain relief without significant side effects, with existing therapies offering limited durability and associated adverse effects.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a combination of hyaluronic acid (HA) and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), where BMP is precipitated and dispersed in the HA solution at a specific pH range, allowing it to become solubilized and biologically active upon injection, enhancing joint repair and pain relief.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If intra-articular steroid injections are used to provide pain relief, then pain relief effectiveness is improved, but durability is limited to 4-6 weeks and adverse effects including collateral cartilage damage occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepain relief effectivenessVSAvoiddurability of pain relief

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines hyaluronic acid (HA) and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) into a single injectable composition, merging the lubrication and shock absorption properties of HA with the cartilage regeneration capabilities of BMP to provide both immediate symptom relief and long-term structural repair

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite material system where HA serves as the carrier matrix and BMP as the active therapeutic agent, leveraging the complementary properties of both substances to achieve sustained pain relief and cartilage regeneration without the adverse effects of steroids

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If NSAIDs are used for severe OA symptoms, then effectiveness is improved, but gastrointestinal bleeding and renal complications occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness for severe symptomsVSAvoidgastrointestinal bleeding and renal complications

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses hyaluronic acid as an intermediary carrier that delivers BMP directly to the joint tissue, bypassing the gastrointestinal tract and avoiding systemic side effects while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness through localized action

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Duration of action of moving object

If hyaluronic acid injections are administered to replenish synovial fluid, then pain relief is observed for about six months, but treatment requires 3 to 5 weekly injections to attain this durability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedurability of pain reliefVSAvoidtime required for multiple injections

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates BMP into the HA formulation in advance, so that when the composition is injected, the BMP is already positioned and ready to stimulate cartilage regeneration, eliminating the need for multiple sequential injections and achieving durable relief from a single treatment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Stability of the object's composition

If BMP is combined with HA solution, then BMP precipitates and disperses in the solution, but maintaining pH stability and biological activity upon injection is challenging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecipitation and dispersion of BMPVSAvoidbiological activity post-injection

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent carefully controls the pH parameter of the HA solution to ensure BMP precipitates and disperses properly during storage, then relies on physiological pH conditions in the body to trigger BMP solubilization and biological activity upon injection, thus maintaining stability throughout the formulation lifecycle

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 HA-BMP combination provides sustained pain relief and potential structural degeneration mitigation, offering a more effective and safer alternative to existing OA treatments by promoting joint regeneration and maintaining biological activity post-injection.

Implementation Method 1

combining a solution of hyaluronic acid (HA) with a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) to form a mixture in which the BMP is precipitated and dispersed in the solution of HA

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPrecipitation: Precipitation

Implementation Method 2

the BMP is capable of becoming solubilized and biologically active within the subject after injection

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSolubilization: Solvation

Data Source

PatentUS8524662B2Compositions and methods for treating joints

Publication Date: 2013.09.03 DEPUY SYNTHES PROD INC

AI summary

Methods and compositions are disclosed for an intra-articular injection for the treatment of osteoarthritis. The methods and compositions comprising combinations of hyaluronic acid and a bone morphogenetic protein, like rhGDF-5, can be useful for any synovial joint, including the knee, shoulder, hip, ankle, hands, spinal facet, or temporomandibular joint, both for the relief of pain and for slowing disease progression.