Multi-Directional Polymeric Wound Closure Material
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Solution Overview
Problem
Polymeric materials used in tape, ribbon, and film configurations often exhibit unidirectional orientation, leading to weakness when forces are applied perpendicular to the material's orientation, causing tears or cracks, which is undesirable in surgical applications where multidirectional forces are common.
Innovation Solution
The development of polymeric materials, such as copolymers of glycolic acid, lactic acid, glycolide, dioxanone, trimethylene carbonate, and caprolactone, are formed into articles with no or multi-directional orientation using methods like compression rollers, contoured rollers, and heat pressing to create films, tapes, and sheets that resist fracture planes and improve tear resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If polymeric materials are formed with unidirectional orientation through extrusion and drawing, then straight pull tensile strength is improved, but tear resistance and integrity under perpendicular forces deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by inverting the conventional approach: instead of creating unidirectional orientation (symmetric in one direction, weak in others), the material is formed with multi-directional or random orientation through processes like blow molding, where the polymer structure is intentionally made asymmetric relative to any single axis, providing balanced strength in all directions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional orientation (unidirectional drawing) to two-dimensional or three-dimensional orientation structures. By using blow molding to create bubbles or multi-directional drawing, the polymer chains are oriented in multiple dimensions simultaneously, converting a 1D strength problem into a 3D strength solution that resists forces from any direction
2Productivity
If polymeric materials are formed with unidirectional orientation, then manufacturing efficiency is improved, but material integrity under multidirectional forces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by using a multi-stage drawing process where the material is drawn in different directions at different stages. The first draw creates initial orientation, then the material is redrawn in perpendicular directions, dynamically adapting the orientation structure to achieve multi-directional strength while maintaining manufacturing efficiency through a systematic multi-step process
3Ease of manufacture
If surgical buttresses use unidirectionally oriented materials, then ease of manufacture is improved, but susceptibility to cracking and tearing under surgical forces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-forming the polymer material with multi-directional orientation characteristics before it is needed for surgical use. The blow molding or multi-directional drawing process creates a pre-stabilized structure that inherently resists cracking and tearing, so when the material is later subjected to surgical forces, it already has the structural preparation needed to resist failure
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 resulting polymeric articles demonstrate enhanced tear resistance and integrity under multidirectional forces, making them suitable for use in surgical stapling and wound closure applications, reducing the likelihood of premature material failure.
Implementation Method 1
forming the polymeric material into an article that does not possess orientation in a single direction
Implementation Method 2
forming the polymeric material into an article that does not possess orientation in a single direction
Data Source
AI summary
Articles are provided having no orientation or a multi-directional orientation. Such articles may be in the form of films, ribbons, sheets, and/or tapes and may be utilized as buttresses with a surgical stapling apparatus or as reinforcing means for suture lines.