Injectable Collagen Implants for Synovial Tissue Repair Scaffolds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tissue within synovial joints, such as intra-articular tissue, fails to heal effectively due to the absence of a fibrin clot formation and subsequent lysis, leading to joint arthrosis and stiffness after injury, necessitating improved healing methods.
Innovation Solution
Development of injectable collagen implants composed of collagen, salts, electrolytes, and glycosaminoglycans, which self-assemble into particles for direct injection at tissue repair sites, enhancing healing through a collagen slurry preparation process involving salt extraction, detergent extraction, enzyme digestion, and acid solubilization, followed by heating and freeze-drying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional fibrin clot formation is allowed in synovial joints, then tissue healing is improved, but joint arthrosis and stiffness occur due to clot lysis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful fibrinolytic process from the joint environment by using plasmin inhibitors to prevent clot breakdown, thereby maintaining the beneficial clot scaffold for healing while eliminating the harmful lysis that causes arthrosis
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces plasmin inhibitors as intermediary substances that mediate between the fibrin clot and the synovial fluid environment, protecting the clot from degradation by synovial plasmin while allowing controlled healing processes
2Reliability
If collagen implants are used to provide healing scaffold, then tissue repair is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases due to multiple extraction and purification steps
Solution Approach 1:
The manufacturing process is segmented into distinct sequential steps (salt extraction, detergent extraction, enzyme digestion, acid solubilization, heating, freeze-drying), where each step performs a specific function and can be independently optimized and controlled
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs systematic parameter changes throughout the manufacturing process, including pH adjustments, temperature variations, and concentration modifications at each extraction and purification stage to achieve the desired collagen implant properties
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 collagen implants promote effective tissue repair by providing a scaffold for healing, particularly in joints, with methods allowing precise delivery and placement, improving healing outcomes and reducing long-term adverse effects.
Implementation Method 1
The compositions may be suitable to self-assemble into a collagen implant
Implementation Method 2
heating the collagen slurry to form a self-assembled collagen slurry
Implementation Method 3
freeze-drying the self-assembled collagen slurry to produce the collagen implant
Implementation Method 4
performing a salt extraction of a source tissue to produce a salt extracted collagen
Implementation Method 5
performing a detergent extraction of the salt extracted collagen to produce a detergent extracted collagen
Implementation Method 6
performing an enzyme digestion of the detergent extracted collagen to produce an enzyme extracted collagen
Implementation Method 7
performing an acid solubilization of the enzyme extracted collagen to produce a purified collagen slurry
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are methods for repairing tissues (e.g., a meniscus, anterior cruciate ligament, rotator cuff, etc.) using collagen implants suitable. For example, the collagen implants are injected into a repair site to heal the tissue. Further described are collagen slurries, injectable collagen implants and methods of preparation thereof.