Magnetic Bone Modification System Periosteal Distraction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for modifying bone volume, such as autogenous bone grafting and synthetic bone replacement materials, are associated with increased surgical risks, immunological issues, and limited biological potency, lacking an ideal solution for reliable and well-tolerated bone formation or reduction.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing a flat, extended lifting/pressure element inserted between the periosteum and bone, with a control element applying magnetic pressure or tension to create a targeted free space for bone formation or reduction, leveraging natural bone growth mechanisms by osteoblasts and osteoprogenitor cells.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If autogenous bone grafting is used to increase bone volume, then bone formation is achieved, but surgical risk increases due to requiring two surgeries

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebone formation reliabilityVSAvoidsurgical risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A lifting element is introduced as an intermediary device between the bone and periosteum to create and maintain a distraction space. This mediator enables bone formation by facilitating periosteal separation and subsequent bone growth without requiring bone harvesting from another site, thus eliminating the need for a second surgery while maintaining reliable bone formation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the mechanical surgical intervention of harvesting and implanting bone grafts with a magnetic field-based system. A control element generates a magnetic field that acts on the lifting element to maintain the distraction space, substituting complex mechanical bone grafting procedures with a controllable magnetic field application that reduces surgical risk.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Volume of stationary object

If synthetic bone substitute materials are implanted to increase bone volume, then bone volume is increased, but biological potency is limited resulting in incomplete restoration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebone volumeVSAvoidbone regeneration quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The lifting element enables the body's own periosteum to perform bone formation naturally. By creating and maintaining a distraction space, the device allows osteoblasts and osteoprogenitor cells in the periosteum to self-organize and deposit new bone tissue, utilizing the body's intrinsic regenerative capabilities rather than relying on external synthetic materials with limited biological potency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Volume of stationary object

If metal plates or grids are used to create space for bone formation, then space is created, but infection risk increases due to tissue perforation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedistraction spaceVSAvoidinfection risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces mechanical metal plates or grids that require tissue perforation and fixation with a magnetically actuated lifting element. This element can be inserted minimally invasively and controlled remotely via magnetic field, eliminating the need for extensive surgical exposure, drilling, and metal fixation hardware that create infection pathways.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Volume of stationary object

If xenogeneic bone substitute material is implanted to increase bone volume, then bone volume is increased, but immunological problems occur due to species differences

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebone volumeVSAvoidimmunological rejection
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The lifting element stimulates the patient's own periosteum to generate bone tissue through natural osteoblastic activity. This autologous bone formation process eliminates the need for xenogeneic materials that would trigger immunological responses, as the bone is produced by the patient's own cells rather than being introduced from another species.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

5Volume of stationary object

If donor bone material is used to increase bone volume, then bone volume is increased, but availability is limited due to ethical and legal constraints

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebone volumeVSAvoidmaterial availability
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The lifting element transforms the bone formation process into a self-service system where the patient's own periosteum serves as the source of bone tissue. This eliminates dependence on limited donor bone supplies from ethical and legal constraints, as the system generates bone autonomously using the patient's existing biological resources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 gentle and reliable bone modification, allowing for controlled bone augmentation or reduction with minimal patient discomfort, utilizing magnetic force transmission to achieve desired bone shape and volume changes.

Implementation Method 1

the control element is designed to exert a magnetic pressure or tensile force on the lifting/pressure element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic force: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentEP3923838B1System for modifying a human or animal bone
Publication Date: 2023.04.05 ZYFOMA GMBH
  • EP3923838B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3923838B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

A system (1) for modifying a human or animal bone (2) should reliably enable, in an especially simple and in particular also especially well tolerated manner, a bone build-up or bone reduction of the bone (2) to be treated. For this purpose, according to the invention a lifting/pressing element (4) extending in a planar manner is provided for insertion between the periosteum (6) of the bone (2) to be treated and the underlying bone (2) or the overlying connective tissue, and a control element (10) associated with said lifting/pressing element is provided, the control element (10) being designed to apply a magnetic compressive or tensile force to the lifting/pressing element (4).