Moldable Bone Filler Using Porous Granule Scaffold

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current bone graft materials, such as autografts and allografts, face limitations including limited availability, patient pain, disease transmission risks, and inefficiencies in promoting bone regeneration, necessitating a synthetic alternative that is non-toxic, immunogenic, and capable of bonding with host bone while supporting new bone growth.

Innovation Solution

A moldable bone filler comprising a porous granule scaffold with a cellular component and organic biopolymer, potentially including growth factors and cytokines, designed to mimic natural bone porosity and structure, allowing for precise defect filling and enhanced integration with autologous cells to promote bone regeneration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If autograft bone is used, then bone regeneration is promoted, but patient pain and limited availability occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebone regenerationVSAvoidpatient pain

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a synthetic bone graft material that copies the structural and functional properties of natural bone without requiring actual bone harvesting from the patient. The porous granule scaffold replicates bone's microarchitecture to provide similar osteoconductive and osteoinductive properties while eliminating donor site morbidity and pain associated with autograft harvesting

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses composite materials combining porous granules (hydroxyapatite, beta-tricalcium phosphate) with organic biopolymers (collagen, gelatin, fibrin) to create a synthetic bone graft that mimics natural bone's composite structure. This composite approach provides both structural integrity and biological activity without requiring patient bone tissue

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If allograft bone is used, then bone regeneration is promoted, but disease transmission risk occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebone regenerationVSAvoiddisease transmission

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a synthetic, disposable bone graft material that does not require donor tissue, thereby eliminating the risk of disease transmission associated with allografts. The porous granule scaffold is designed to be single-use and biodegradable, providing bone regeneration without the complications of donor tissue evaluation and disease screening

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Strength

If rigid implant is used, then structural strength is provided, but adaptability to defect contours is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidadaptability to defect contours

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the rigid implant paradigm by creating a moldable bone graft material that can dynamically adapt to the contours of the defect site. The porous granule scaffold combined with organic biopolymers allows the implant to be shaped to match the patient's anatomy, providing both structural strength and adaptability without requiring rigid pre-formed shapes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Productivity

If bone marrow concentrate is delivered, then healing is accelerated, but delivery complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehealing accelerationVSAvoiddelivery complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the delivery of bone marrow concentrate with the bone graft scaffold itself. The porous granule scaffold serves as both the structural support and the delivery vehicle for concentrated bone marrow and growth factors, eliminating the need for separate delivery systems and simplifying the overall procedure while accelerating healing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 filler effectively supports bone regeneration by providing a high surface area for cell attachment, promoting osteogenic differentiation, and accelerating healing by delivering concentrated progenitor cells directly to the defect site, reducing surgical time and trauma, and enhancing bone remodeling.

Implementation Method 1

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPorosity: Porosity

Implementation Method 2

accelerating healing by delivering concentrated progenitor cells directly to the defect site, reducing surgical time and trauma, and enhancing bone remodeling

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCell migration:

Implementation Method 3

capable of bonding with the host bone, capable of supporting in-growth of new bone into the graft

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentUS10183095B2Treatment of skeletal voids with implantable substrate hydrated with bone marrow concentrate

Publication Date: 2019.01.22 SPINESMITH PARTNERS LP

AI summary

The invention is directed to a bone void filler comprising a scaffold or matrix. The scaffold or matrix may include a porous inorganic matrix component. The bone void filler may include a cellular component containing cells, some of which are capable of making extracellular matrix resembling native bone tissue. The bone void filler may include an organic matrix, such as, an organic biopolymer that aids in cell retention and renders the scaffold or matrix moldable. The bone void filler may include growth factors and/or cytokines. The bone void filler may include a clotting agent.