Implant Shaping via Localized Heating and Mechanical Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for fastening implants to tissue, such as screws and pins, face issues with slow fastening and insufficient pull-out strength, and heating-based solutions can damage tissues due to elevated temperatures.
Innovation Solution
An implant with a contact surface for receiving external mechanical energy to deform and lock into a hole, using a tool with a shaping element to heat selectively parts of the implant to a transition temperature, allowing mechanical shaping without melting or heating to high temperatures, ensuring quick and strong fastening while maintaining low tissue temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If screws are used for fastening implants to tissue, then the fastening is secure, but the fastening process is slow
Solution Approach 1:
The implant material's temperature is changed to above its transition temperature (Tg) to alter its mechanical properties, transforming it from a rigid state to a more compliant state that can be deformed and shaped quickly to lock into the tissue hole, achieving both speed and security
Solution Approach 2:
The implant undergoes a phase transition from below Tg to above Tg, enabling temporary softening for rapid deformation and locking, then transitions back to a stable locked state, providing quick fastening without compromising security
2Shape
If the implant is heated to melting temperature for shaping, then the implant can be deformed to lock in the hole, but the tissue temperature rises too high causing tissue damage
Solution Approach 1:
The implant temperature is controlled to be above its transition temperature (Tg) but below the melting temperature, allowing sufficient deformation capability while maintaining a temperature gradient that keeps the tissue interface temperature safe and prevents tissue damage
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the implant have different temperature characteristics - the portion in contact with tissue maintains lower temperature for safety, while other portions can be heated to Tg or above for deformation, achieving local quality differentiation
3Productivity
If the implant is heated to transition temperature for mechanical shaping, then the shaping can be performed quickly, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Only specific portions of the implant that require deformation are heated to transition temperature, rather than heating the entire implant uniformly, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining shaping speed for critical areas
Solution Approach 2:
The implant heating process is segmented into specific zones - the shank portion requiring deformation is heated to Tg for shaping, while other portions remain at lower temperatures, dividing the energy input into functional segments
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 solution enables rapid and secure fastening with high pull-out strength while avoiding tissue damage from excessive heat, as the implant is shaped mechanically using external energy, maintaining a low temperature at the implant-tissue interface.
Implementation Method 1
heating the implant or a part thereof to a transition temperature, such as a Tg temperature or an orientation temperature
Data Source
AI summary
An implant to be fastened to a tissue, a tool a kit and a method. The implant has a first end, a second end and an elongated shank made in part from a first polymer material. The implant includes a contact surface for receiving external mechanical energy for deforming the shape of the implant such that the shape of the implant can be deformed and locked in the tissue by the effect of the external mechanical energy.