Osteoclast-Stimulating Implant for Accelerated Bone Remodeling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional bone grafting methods face challenges in efficiently promoting bone formation, particularly in cases where there is an imbalance in bone resorption and formation, as they primarily focus on increasing osteoblast activity without effectively leveraging osteoclast-driven resorption processes.

Innovation Solution

A method and implant comprising a stimulating substance that promotes osteoclast formation and activity, thereby enhancing bone resorption and remodeling, which includes using substances like RANKL, MCSF, and other regulating proteins to stimulate osteoclast production and recruitment, combined with an implantable material that releases these substances to enhance bone resorption and formation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional bone grafting methods focus on increasing osteoblast activity, then bone formation is promoted, but the overall bone remodeling rate remains slow due to insufficient osteoclast-driven resorption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebone formation rateVSAvoidbone healing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of directly stimulating osteoblasts to form bone, the invention inverts the approach by stimulating osteoclasts to resorb bone first. The osteoclast stimulation triggers a coupled osteoblast response, thereby promoting bone formation indirectly through the resorption-formation coupling mechanism inherent in bone remodeling physiology

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces osteoclast-stimulating factors (such as RANKL, MCSF) as intermediary agents that mediate between the implanted composition and the bone remodeling process. These factors act as mediators that recruit and activate osteoclasts, which then trigger the coupled osteoblast activity necessary for bone formation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If osteoclast activity is stimulated to accelerate bone resorption, then bone remodeling rate increases, but excessive resorption may occur without proper control

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebone remodeling rateVSAvoidcontrolled bone formation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention utilizes the natural feedback mechanism of bone remodeling where osteoclast resorption creates signals that stimulate osteoblast formation. The coupled resorption-formation process provides inherent feedback control, where the extent of resorption directly influences the subsequent formation response, preventing uncontrolled resorption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The implanted composition performs preliminary action by pre-stimulating osteoclast recruitment and activation before the actual bone formation process begins. This preliminary osteoclast stimulation prepares the site by creating the necessary resorption signals that will trigger the osteoblast response, ensuring controlled subsequent formation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2358352B1Compositions and methods for promoting bone formation
Publication Date: 2018.08.29 WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC INC
  • EP2358352B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2358352B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2E
  • EP2358352B1 patent drawingFigure 2F

AI summary

A method for promoting bone formation is provided. More specifically, a method for promoting bone formation by promoting osteoclast formation is provided. In one embodiment, an implant comprising an implantable material and an osteoclast stimulating substance is provided.