Partially Digested Cartilage Hydrogel for Chondral Defects

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for reconstructing cartilaginous facial structures, such as the ear and nose, face challenges in meeting patient expectations due to complications from rib harvest, variability in outcomes, and regulatory hurdles for tissue-engineered therapies, which are costly and time-consuming.

Innovation Solution

A method utilizing partially digested cartilage combined with a biodegradable hydrogel and 3D printed scaffold, allowing for patient-specific cartilage reconstruction directly in the operating room, reducing the need for external cell expansion and streamlining regulatory approval.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If tissue-engineered cartilage reconstruction is used, then patient-specific anatomical precision is improved, but regulatory approval complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient-specific anatomical precisionVSAvoidregulatory approval complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions by harvesting and processing cartilage tissue before the reconstructive surgery. The cartilage is minced, digested with enzymes to create a slurry, and mixed with hydrogel in the operating room before implantation. This preliminary preparation allows for patient-specific customization without requiring complex external cell expansion facilities, thereby reducing regulatory complexity while maintaining manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If autologous cartilage grafts are harvested and reshaped in the operating room, then tissue integration and proper stiffness are improved, but surgical time and outcome variability increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue integrationVSAvoidsurgical time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The cartilage tissue is prepared in advance by harvesting, mincing, and enzymatic digestion to create a ready-to-use slurry. This preliminary action eliminates the need for time-consuming intraoperative shaping and carving, significantly reducing surgical time while ensuring proper tissue integration through pre-processed cartilage cells and matrix.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces mechanical shaping and carving of cartilage grafts with enzymatic digestion to create the cartilage slurry. Instead of using surgical instruments to carve and shape cartilage, enzymes break down the cartilage matrix into a workable consistency that can be directly molded into the desired shape within the hydrogel, reducing surgical time and outcome variability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of manufacture

If synthetic implants are used for cartilage reconstruction, then elimination of tissue harvesting is improved, but skin breakdown and implant extrusion rates increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelimination of tissue harvestingVSAvoidskin breakdown and implant extrusion

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite material by combining enzymatically digested cartilage slurry with biodegradable hydrogel. This composite provides the benefits of synthetic implants (no tissue harvesting needed) while incorporating autologous cartilage cells and matrix to prevent skin breakdown and implant extrusion. The hydrogel serves as a biocompatible carrier that supports tissue integration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

4Ease of operation

If cartilage is fully digested to create cell slurry, then ease of molding and shaping is improved, but loss of structural integrity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of molding and shapingVSAvoidstructural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The hydrogel acts as an intermediary carrier that provides structural integrity to the enzymatically digested cartilage slurry. The hydrogel matrix supports the cartilage cells and partially degraded matrix, allowing easy molding and shaping during surgery while preventing loss of structural integrity once implanted. The hydrogel gradually degrades as new cartilage tissue forms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Facilitates quicker, cost-effective, and more precise cartilage reconstruction with reduced complications, aligning with regulatory requirements and patient-specific anatomical needs.

Implementation Method 1

partially digesting the plurality of pieces of cartilage in a digesting mixture to form partially digested cartilage

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEnzymatic digestion: Enzyme

Implementation Method 2

encapsulating the partially digested cartilage

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrogel encapsulation: Hydrogel

Data Source

PatentUS20250281674A1Systems and Methods for Utilizing Partially Digested Cartilage Matrix for Chondral Defects

Publication Date: 2025.09.11 GEORGIA TECH RES CORP

AI summary

An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method of utilizing partially digested cartilage for chondral defects, the method comprising: obtaining cartilage; mincing the cartilage into a plurality of pieces of cartilage; partially digesting the plurality of pieces of cartilage in a digesting mixture to form partially digested cartilage; and encapsulating the partially digested cartilage.