Implantable Socket Structure for Stable Tissue Integration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing implantable medical devices face challenges in enhancing inter-component and inter-environment interactions, including relative movement, flexing, abrading, and thrombosis, which affect the stability and compatibility of device components within the body.
Innovation Solution
The development of a socket structure for implantable devices, featuring a body with an anchoring member and a socket that includes reinforcing rings and materials promoting tissue ingrowth and minimizing thrombosis, to enhance inter-component and inter-environment interactions by reducing relative movement and promoting biocompatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If device components are designed with complex outer profiles for functional requirements, then functional performance is improved, but radial variability increases causing instability and tissue damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested structure where an inner device component with complex functional profile is enclosed within an outer socket with simplified smooth profile. The socket acts as a protective shell that contains the functional complexities while presenting a stable, uniform outer surface to the surrounding tissue environment, thereby resolving the contradiction between functional adaptability and radial stability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If device components have high radial variability for functional interactions, then inter-component functionality is enhanced, but relative movement and flexing increase causing abrasion and instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the device system into two distinct functional segments: an inner component that maintains high radial variability for inter-component functionality and interactions, and an outer socket that provides structural stability. This segmentation allows each part to optimize its specific function without compromising the other, enabling reliable stable interactions while preserving necessary functional adaptability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If device materials are made biocompatible to encourage tissue ingrowth, then tissue integration is improved, but thrombosis risk increases due to foreign body response
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different material properties to different regions of the device. The inner components that require tissue integration are made with materials that promote fibrosis and tissue ingrowth, while the outer socket that contacts the blood environment is made with thromboresistant materials. This localized differentiation of material quality allows simultaneous achievement of tissue integration and thrombosis prevention in different locations of the same device system.
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 socket structure improves the stability and compatibility of implantable devices by minimizing flexing and abrading between components, while encouraging tissue integration and reducing thrombosis, thereby enhancing the overall performance and biocompatibility of the device.
Implementation Method 1
The socket includes one or more reinforcing rings, wherein at least one of the one or more reinforcing rings is elastically deformable to an enlarged diameter from which the one or more reinforcing rings elastically recovers
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
Implantable devices may include a single, first component or a plurality of components such as first and second components, the second component being flexibly coupled to the first component. A socket extends over one or more of the component(s), the socket being configured to enhance the inter-component interaction and / or including one or more exposed surface(s) configured to exhibit one or more tiers of foreign body responses within a range of possible foreign body responses.