Injectable Polymer Scaffold Composition for Minimally Invasive Tissue Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tissue scaffolds require invasive surgical procedures for implantation, as they need to be prefabricated to a specific shape and size, which limits their application and convenience.
Innovation Solution
A composition of polymer particles and a carrier, where the polymer particles are a mixture of at least two polymers with a glass transition temperature lower than the second polymer, allowing them to join and form a scaffold in vivo without pre-shaping, administered via injection to conform to the tissue cavity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If tissue scaffolds are prefabricated to a specific shape and size, then they can be used for tissue repair, but invasive surgical procedures are required for implantation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical state parameter of the scaffold material from solid to liquid/slurry form, enabling injection through a needle. The scaffold material is formulated as a suspension or slurry that can be administered minimally invasively, then transforms back to a solid structure in situ, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The scaffold material undergoes a phase transition from liquid/slurry state during injection to solid state after implantation. This phase change enables the material to be delivered via simple injection procedures while still forming a structurally precise scaffold in the target tissue site
2Strength
If tissue scaffolds are prefabricated to a specific shape and size, then they can provide structural support, but the surgical procedure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical state parameter of the scaffold material from solid to liquid/slurry form, enabling injection through a needle. The scaffold material is formulated as a suspension or slurry that can be administered minimally invasively, then transforms back to a solid structure in situ, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The scaffold material undergoes a phase transition from liquid/slurry state during injection to solid state after implantation. This phase change enables the material to be delivered via simple injection procedures while still forming a structurally precise scaffold in the target tissue site
3Reliability
If tissue scaffolds are made from synthetic materials, then they can provide structural framework, but the need for invasive surgery remains
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical state parameter of the scaffold material from solid to liquid/slurry form, enabling injection through a needle. The scaffold material is formulated as a suspension or slurry that can be administered minimally invasively, then transforms back to a solid structure in situ, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The scaffold material undergoes a phase transition from liquid/slurry state during injection to solid state after implantation. This phase change enables the material to be delivered via simple injection procedures while still forming a structurally precise scaffold in the target tissue site
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
Enables the formation of a scaffold that conforms to the tissue site, overcoming the need for invasive surgery and providing improved hardness and strength, suitable for tissue repair and regeneration.
Implementation Method 1
the first polymer is at least partially soluble or dispersible in the carrier
Implementation Method 2
the first polymer is at least partially soluble or dispersible in the carrier... the mixture of the two polymers has a glass transition temperature lower than the glass transition temperature of the second type of polymer on its own
Implementation Method 3
The joining together of the polymer particles may be due to, for example, one or more of fusion, adhesion, cohesion and entanglement of the polymer and/or particles
Implementation Method 4
The joining together of the polymer particles may be due to, for example, one or more of fusion, adhesion, cohesion and entanglement of the polymer and/or particles
Implementation Method 5
the polymer particles are arranged such that they can join together to form a scaffold of polymer particles... formation of the scaffold from the particles in the composition may be referred to as solidification
Data Source
AI summary
A composition comprising polymer particles and a carrier, wherein the polymer particles are a mixture of at least a first polymer and a second polymer, wherein the first polymer is at least partially soluble or dispersible in the carrier, and wherein the polymer particles are arranged such that they can join together to form a scaffold of polymer particles, and wherein the composition is administrable to a human or non-human animal.