Local Sex Hormone Implants for Targeted Bone Remodeling

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Systemic administration of sex hormones for bone remodeling leads to unwanted side effects due to exposure of non-target anatomical regions, necessitating the development of localized administration methods that mimic physiological hormone ratios for improved bone health.

Innovation Solution

Local administration of a composition comprising estrogen and androgen at a bone site, with sex-specific hormone ratios, using drug-eluting implants or extended-release formulations to enhance bone remodeling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If systemic administration of sex hormones is used to improve bone remodeling, then bone health is improved, but unwanted side effects occur due to exposure of non-target anatomical regions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebone remodeling effectivenessVSAvoidside effects from non-target exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the hormone delivery system into local segments at the bone site rather than systemic distribution. Drug-eluting implants are placed directly at the target bone location, segmenting the therapeutic effect to only where needed, thereby improving bone remodeling while eliminating exposure to non-target anatomical regions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by concentrating the hormone composition specifically at the bone site through localized delivery systems. The drug-eluting implants provide high concentrations of estrogen and androgen precisely where bone remodeling is needed, while maintaining low or zero concentrations in other body regions, thus achieving effective treatment without systemic side effects

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If local administration of sex hormones is used to improve bone remodeling, then side effects are reduced, but hormone levels may be insufficient to achieve therapeutic effect

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveside effects reductionVSAvoidhormone concentration at target site

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs preliminary action by pre-loading the implant with sufficient hormone composition before implantation. The drug-eluting implant is prepared in advance with an effective amount of estrogen and androgen, ensuring that adequate hormone quantity is immediately available at the target site upon implantation, thereby achieving therapeutic effect while maintaining localized delivery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent ensures continuity of useful action through sustained-release mechanisms in the drug-eluting implants. The hormones are released continuously over time at the bone site, maintaining therapeutic concentrations throughout the bone remodeling process, thereby preventing insufficient hormone levels while keeping the delivery localized to avoid side effects

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS20250367109A1Devices, systems, and methods for improved bone remodeling

Publication Date: 2025.12.04 UNIV OF UTAH RES FOUND

AI summary

Disclosed are devices and methods for providing local administration of a sex hormone composition in a mammalian body to promote bone remodeling. The device includes an implantable structure configured for placement at a target intraosseous and/or periosteal site in the mammalian body and an effective amount of a sex hormone composition associated with the implantable structure. The sex hormone composition comprises both an estrogen and an androgen.