Hydrogel Implantable Device for Post-Resection Tissue Formation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional markers fail to facilitate new breast tissue formation within a resection cavity post-surgery, leading to deformities and complicating site identification post-resection.
Innovation Solution
A hydrogel-based implantable device with encapsulated tissue-specific cells is inserted into the resection cavity, providing a bioreactor for cell integration and structural support, along with bioabsorbable frames and radiopaque markers for site identification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If conventional markers are used for site identification, then site visibility is achieved, but tissue formation is not facilitated leading to deformities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate functions into a single implantable device: (1) site identification through radiopaque markers and (2) tissue formation facilitation through hydrogel scaffold with encapsulated cells. This merging resolves the contradiction by achieving both site visibility and preventing deformities simultaneously, rather than using conventional markers that only provide identification.
Solution Approach 2:
The implantable device serves multiple functions: it provides radiopaque markers for imaging/identification, offers structural support through the frame, facilitates tissue formation through the hydrogel scaffold with encapsulated cells, and maintains cavity shape. This multi-functionality allows the device to address both site identification and tissue formation needs in a single solution.
2Productivity
If a hydrogel scaffold with encapsulated cells is used, then tissue formation is accelerated, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The encapsulated cells are prepared and encapsulated in the hydrogel scaffold before implantation. This preliminary action allows the cells to be pre-positioned and pre-conditioned, enabling them to immediately begin facilitating tissue formation upon implantation, thus accelerating the tissue formation rate while maintaining a manageable device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydrogel scaffold acts as an intermediary structure that provides a three-dimensional matrix for cell encapsulation, protection, and controlled release. This intermediary structure simplifies the overall device design by consolidating multiple functions (cell delivery, structural support, tissue formation facilitation) into a single integrated component rather than requiring separate complex mechanisms.
3Strength
If the frame is fully encapsulated in hydrogel scaffold, then structural support is provided, but manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The implantable device is segmented into distinct components: a frame structure and a hydrogel scaffold. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured separately using appropriate techniques (frame through molding or fabrication, hydrogel through gelation processes), and then assembled together. This approach maintains structural support while simplifying manufacturing compared to creating a fully integrated single-piece structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydrogel scaffold forms a flexible, gel-like structure that can conform to and encapsulate the frame. This flexible encapsulation provides structural support and tissue formation facilitation without requiring rigid, complex assembly processes. The hydrogel's gelation process naturally conforms to the frame shape, simplifying the encapsulation step compared to rigid shell formation.
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
Accelerates tissue formation and reduces deformities by promoting cell interaction, while ensuring site visibility for subsequent procedures.
Implementation Method 1
preparing a hydrogel scaffold with encapsulated cells... gelation of the hydrogel precursor solution initiated to form the hydrogel scaffold
Implementation Method 2
the one or more markers may be comprised of a non-bioabsorbable, radiopaque material
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and devices for facilitating post-resection tissue formation to accelerate healing are provided. A hydrogel scaffold with encapsulated cells may be prepared. The encapsulated cells may be cells of the patient undergoing the resection that correspond to a type of the tissue resected. The hydrogel scaffold may be integrated with a frame to form an implantable device for insertion into a cavity created by the resection. The hydrogel scaffold and the frame may be bioabsorbable, and the frame may include non-bioabsorbable, radiopaque markers spaced along the frame. Upon insertion of the implantable device into the cavity, the encapsulated cells may interact with native cells to facilitate new tissue formation within the hydrogel scaffold and other areas of the cavity, the frame may provide temporary structural support for the cavity to reduce deformations as new tissue is being formed, and the markers may enable identification of the resection site.