Hydroxyapatite Tissue Filler Using Ceramic Particle Stabilization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current biocompatible materials for soft and hard tissue augmentation often rely on foreign body carriers that are non-biodegradable, cause immunogenic reactions, and require unnecessary corrections, while also being costly and difficult to use effectively.

Innovation Solution

A biocompatible composition comprising an aqueous suspension of ceramic particles, where smaller ceramic carrier particles stabilize larger augmentation particles, eliminating the need for foreign body carriers and ensuring long-term stability and resorbability, thereby minimizing side effects and improving injectability and cost-effectiveness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If foreign body carrier materials are used in injectable hydroxyapatite compositions, then the ceramic particles can be stabilized in suspension, but the compositions become unattractive due to immunogenic reactions and non-biodegradable properties

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of ceramic particle suspensionVSAvoidimmunogenic reactions and non-biodegradable properties
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes foreign body carrier materials from the composition by using only ceramic particles (hydroxyapatite and beta-tricalcium phosphate) in a saline solution. The ceramic particles themselves provide the stabilization function that previously required foreign carriers, eliminating immunogenic reactions and non-biodegradable properties while maintaining suspension stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a homogeneous mixture of ceramic particles with different size ranges (carrier particles: 0.1-10 μm, augmentation particles: 10-100 μm) in a saline solution. This homogeneous composition eliminates the need for foreign body carriers and ensures biocompatibility while maintaining suspension stability through the uniform distribution of ceramic particles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #33Homogeneity

2Duration of action of stationary object

If permanent filler materials like PMMA are used, then repetitious corrections are unnecessary, but complications arise from non-biodegradable properties and permanent impact on tissue

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveduration of tissue augmentationVSAvoidcomplications from non-biodegradable properties
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the particle size parameters to achieve optimal performance: carrier particles (0.1-10 μm) provide stabilization while augmentation particles (10-100 μm) provide the desired tissue augmentation effect. This parameter optimization allows the composition to be resorbable over time while maintaining effectiveness, avoiding the permanent implant approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a resorbable composition where the ceramic particles are gradually absorbed and replaced by natural tissue over time. The carrier particles are resorbed first, followed by the augmentation particles, allowing the body to naturally replace the filler material with healthy tissue, thereby eliminating the harmful effects of permanent implants.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Object-affected harmful factors

If ceramic particles are made resorbable, then side effects are minimized, but the composition must dissolve slow enough to allow replacement with growing tissue cells

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveside effectsVSAvoidresorption time
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the ceramic particles into two distinct size ranges: carrier particles (0.1-10 μm) that provide initial stabilization and are resorbed first, and augmentation particles (10-100 μm) that provide sustained tissue augmentation and are resorbed more slowly. This segmentation allows different parts of the composition to have different resorption rates, minimizing side effects while ensuring adequate replacement time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 composition allows for safe, effective, and long-lasting tissue augmentation with minimal side effects, as the ceramic particles remain stable and resorbable, facilitating tissue regeneration and cosmetic enhancements without the need for foreign materials.

Implementation Method 1

The composition is an aqueous suspension containing a carrier fraction of ceramic particles of less than 15 μm and an augmentation fraction of ceramic particles of at least 20 μm

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectColloidal stabilization: Colloid

Implementation Method 2

The ceramic particles of the two fractions together preferably make up for more than 95 wt %, more preferably more than 98 wt % of the total solids of the composition

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrostatic repulsion: Electrostatics

Data Source

PatentUS9233189B2Hydroxyapatite tissue filler and its preparation and use
Publication Date: 2016.01.12 CAM BIOCERAMICS

AI summary

The invention pertains to a biocompatible composition, suitable for use in soft or hard tissue augmentation, wherein the composition is an aqueous suspension containing a carrier fraction of ceramic particles of less than 15 μm and an augmentation fraction of ceramic particles of at least 20 μm. The ceramics typically include calcium phosphate. The composition is a may be used in soft tissue repair as well as hard bone replacement. It advantageously avoids the need for foreign body materials which are conventionally applied to stabilize augmentation suspensions.