Modified Collagen Viscosity Reduction via Freeze-Dehydration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Collagen dispersions used in manufacturing collagen-based materials for medical applications are viscous, making them difficult to process at commercial scales, and require freezing to prevent bacterial growth, which complicates their use in creating membranes or sponges for postoperative adhesion barriers.
Innovation Solution
A modified collagen is produced by isolating collagen, freezing it, dehydrating the frozen collagen, and maturing the dehydrated collagen to reduce viscosity and improve processing efficiency without compromising the properties of the final collagen-based materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If collagen dispersion is concentrated by removal of water to reduce bulk, then storage convenience is improved, but viscosity increases making the dispersion difficult to process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the physical state of collagen through freezing and dehydration processes. By converting collagen dispersion to a frozen state and then dehydrating it, the invention achieves a modified collagen product with reduced viscosity that is easier to process while maintaining high collagen concentration for efficient storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes phase transitions by freezing the collagen dispersion and then dehydrating the frozen collagen. This phase change approach transforms the collagen from a viscous liquid state to a modified solid state that can be easily processed while maintaining high concentration, thus resolving the contradiction between storage convenience and processability.
2Reliability
If freezing is applied to preserve collagen and prevent bacterial growth, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional freezing and thawing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing freezing and dehydration of collagen in advance to create a modified collagen product. This pre-processing eliminates the need for repeated freezing and thawing cycles during subsequent manufacturing operations, thereby maintaining collagen preservation reliability while reducing overall process complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The modified collagen product created through freezing and dehydration serves itself by maintaining stability and preventing bacterial growth without requiring continuous refrigeration or repeated freezing cycles. This self-preserving characteristic reduces the complexity of temperature control systems and processing steps in subsequent manufacturing operations.
3Ease of operation
If collagen dispersion is diluted to reduce viscosity, then ease of operation is improved, but productivity decreases due to increased water removal requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by transforming collagen through freezing and dehydration to create a modified collagen with inherently reduced viscosity. This approach allows the collagen to be processed at high concentrations without requiring dilution, thereby maintaining manufacturing efficiency while improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of the conventional approach of diluting collagen to reduce viscosity, the patent inverts the strategy by removing water through freezing and dehydration to create a modified collagen that naturally has reduced viscosity at high concentrations. This inversion eliminates the need for dilution and subsequent water removal, maintaining productivity while improving processability.
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 modified collagen process reduces viscosity, enhances the effectiveness of collagen-based materials as postoperative adhesion barriers, and improves their manufacturing efficiency at commercial scales, while maintaining the integrity and functionality of the materials.
Implementation Method 1
freezing the isolated collagen
Implementation Method 2
dehydrating the frozen collagen
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a modified collagen obtainable by providing isolated collagen; freezing the isolated collagen; dehydrating the frozen collagen; and maturing the dehydrated collagen. Also disclosed are methods of preparing the modified collagen and uses thereof.