Implant Coating Wiper for Uniform Antibiotic Bone Cement Layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for coating elongated implants, such as intramedullary nails and osteosynthesis plates, face challenges in achieving uniform and reproducible antibiotic coatings due to the difficulty in applying polymethyl methacrylate bone cement, leading to inconsistent layer thickness and adhesion issues, which can result in insufficient anti-infective delivery.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a reservoir and a lower part with a rubber-elastic opening serving as a scraper is used to coat elongated implants, allowing for uniform application of coating material by wiping off excess, ensuring a defined and reproducible coating process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If bone cement is manually applied to the implant surface, then the coating can be formed intraoperatively, but the layer thickness becomes non-uniform and adhesion becomes too strong
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible membrane with opening that conforms to the implant geometry, providing a standardized wiping action that ensures uniform coating thickness. The membrane acts as a flexible template that maintains consistent distance from the implant surface during the coating process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and application parameters of the bone cement by controlling the wiping speed, pressure, and membrane movement through the coating solution, achieving uniform thin layers that prevent excessive adhesion while maintaining intraoperative applicability.
2Quantity of substance
If more bone cement is applied to ensure sufficient anti-infective coverage, then the coating thickness increases, but the implant cross-section becomes too large for implantation
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane creates a precisely controlled thin film coating that provides sufficient anti-infective quantity in a uniform, thin layer. This ensures adequate drug delivery without increasing the implant's overall cross-sectional dimensions, maintaining implantability in debrided bone.
Solution Approach 2:
By optimizing the coating parameters (membrane speed, pressure, solution concentration), the patent achieves maximum anti-infective delivery efficiency in a minimal thickness, preventing volume increase while ensuring sufficient drug quantity for infection prevention.
3Productivity
If the coating is applied quickly to maintain surgical efficiency, then the coating process is fast, but the uniformity and quality of the coating deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane system is self-regulating, where the membrane's elasticity and the wiping motion automatically maintain consistent coating parameters. The system self-adjusts to provide uniform coating thickness without requiring complex control mechanisms, enabling fast yet precise coating application.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible membrane provides a standardized, repeatable wiping action that maintains coating uniformity regardless of application speed. The membrane's physical properties ensure consistent contact with the implant surface, allowing rapid coating while preserving quality through its inherent geometric control.
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 simple, inexpensive, and intraoperative application of customized antibiotic coatings with uniform thickness, effectively delivering anti-infectives to the implant surface, preventing adhesion issues and ensuring mechanical stabilization post-surgery.
Implementation Method 1
The material forming the opening is rubber-elastic and serves as a scraper for removing excess coating agent
Implementation Method 2
The material forming the opening is rubber-elastic and serves as a scraper
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device for coating elongated implants, a system with such a device, a use of such a device, and a method for coating an elongated implant. A device (10) for coating an elongated implant (5) comprises a reservoir (12) for receiving a coating agent (8) and a lower part (15) with an opening (16) connected or connectable to the reservoir (12). A material (17) forming the opening (16) is rubber-elastic and serves as a wiper (18) for removing excess coating agent (8).