Thin Film Multilocular Collagen Structure for Nerve Regeneration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current nerve regeneration techniques using hollow tubes are limited by poor regeneration potential, rapid decomposition, aperture differences leading to tissue inhibition, and difficulty in handling branching nerves, resulting in insufficient long-term tissue repair and regeneration.
Innovation Solution
A thin film multilocular collagen structure within a biodegradable support with a U-shaped or C-shaped section and controlled degradation rate, which maintains a hollow interior for extended tissue regeneration and facilitates easier implantation and integration with nerve tissues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If hollow tubes are used for nerve regeneration, then the structure is simple and easy to implant, but the regeneration potential is poor and decomposition is rapid
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies porous collagen materials to fill the hollow tube, creating a three-dimensional porous structure that maintains structural simplicity for easy implantation while providing enhanced regeneration potential through increased surface area and cellular interaction sites. The porous structure allows nerve fibers to penetrate and grow through the material effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining collagen with other bioactive substances such as laminin and nerve growth factor within the tube structure. This composite approach enhances the regeneration potential and sustainability of the nerve guidance conduit while maintaining the basic hollow tube structure for ease of implantation.
2Ease of manufacture
If hollow tubes with uniform aperture are used, then manufacturing is simple, but aperture differences between tube end and nerve end cause gaps that inhibit nerve regeneration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces tapered aperture structures that allow the tube aperture to be adjusted or adapted to match different nerve end apertures. This dynamic design enables aperture variation along the tube length or at specific ends, ensuring proper alignment and contact with nerve tissue of varying sizes while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different aperture characteristics at different locations of the tube - specifically tapered or variable aperture designs where the opening size changes along the length of the tube. This local variation in aperture quality allows better adaptation to different nerve ends without requiring complete redesign of the entire tube structure.
3Device complexity
If single hollow tubes are used, then the structure is simple, but they cannot accommodate branching nerves and require multiple implantations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the nerve guidance conduit into segmented or modular components that can be assembled to accommodate branching nerve structures. This segmentation allows the creation of complex multi-branch configurations from simpler modular units, maintaining ease of manufacturing for each module while achieving the versatility needed for branching nerves.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs universal nerve guidance conduit structures that can accommodate both straight and branching nerve configurations. The multi-functional design allows a single type of basic tube structure to serve multiple purposes - whether for simple linear nerve repair or complex branching nerve reconstruction - reducing the need for multiple specialized implant types.
4Stability of the object's composition
If rapid decomposition materials are used, then the tube is biocompatible and absorbs well, but the structural integrity is insufficient for long defective parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the decomposition rate parameter of the biodegradable materials used in the nerve guidance conduit. By controlling and adjusting the degradation kinetics through material selection, cross-linking density, and structural design, the tube maintains structural integrity for extended periods necessary for long nerve defects while ultimately being fully absorbed by the body.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material structures combining different biodegradable polymers with varying degradation rates. This composite approach allows the outer structural layer to maintain integrity longer while inner layers decompose faster, creating a gradient decomposition pattern that sustains structural support for long defects while ensuring eventual complete absorption.
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
Enhances nerve tissue regeneration by promoting longer tissue repair, reducing the need for secondary surgeries, and improving functional recovery without the use of laminin or nerve growth factor, while accommodating branching nerves and maintaining structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
a method for producing the same including freeze-drying a collagen solution
Data Source
AI summary
A structure made of collagen for improving promotion of nerve tissue regeneration, curing and regeneration of a defective part of a soft biological tissue and so on without using laminin or nerve growth factor (NGF), and a member for tissue regeneration including the same. The structure made of collagen has a thin film multilocular formation and is therefore a structure different from a colloid form, a gel form, and a fiber form. When the new structure made of collagen is used as a member for tissue regeneration, surprisingly, promotion of regeneration, shortening of a treatment period, functional recovery, or the like of bodily tissue such as nerve tissue, subdermal tissue, submucosal tissue, membranous tissue, fat tissue, muscle tissue, skin tissue, and gingival tissue can be improved. When the structure is used in a patient having neuropathic pain, the member has an effect on the disappearance of the pain.