Perfusable Hydrogel Device for Adipose Tissue Oxygenation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current breast reconstruction methods are imperfect and require improvement, particularly in providing adequate blood and oxygen supply to transplanted adipose tissue, leading to anxiety and depression in breast cancer patients.
Innovation Solution
Development of hydrogel devices with perfusable chambers configured to be filled with adipose tissue and oxygenated fluid, connected to blood vessels, and optionally lymphatic vessels, using 3D printing technology to create a vascularized adipose gland (Neobreast) for improved tissue viability and integration with the host vasculature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current breast reconstruction methods are used, then breast reconstruction is achieved, but adequate blood and oxygen supply to transplanted adipose tissue is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the reconstruction tissue into distinct functional chambers: a first chamber for adipose tissue and a second chamber for oxygenated fluid. This segmentation allows independent perfusion of each chamber, ensuring that adipose tissue receives adequate oxygen supply while maintaining structural organization. The chambers are spaced 50-800 micrometers apart to optimize diffusion distances for oxygen and nutrients.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hydrogel matrix as an intermediary substance that fills the space between chambers and provides a biocompatible environment for tissue integration. The hydrogel acts as a mediator between the transplanted adipose tissue and the host vasculature, facilitating nutrient and oxygen transport while supporting tissue viability during the reconstruction process.
2Reliability
If complex vascularized structures are created to improve blood supply, then oxygen delivery improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the vascular function from complex biological tissue and replaces it with a simplified artificial system. Instead of attempting to create fully vascularized adipose tissue, the invention extracts only the essential oxygen delivery function and provides it through a separate second chamber that perfuses oxygenated fluid directly adjacent to the adipose tissue chamber, thereby simplifying the overall structure while maintaining adequate blood supply.
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs preliminary vascularization by pre-establishing the oxygen delivery infrastructure before tissue implantation. The second chamber is pre-configured with perfusion capabilities and positioned 50-800 micrometers from the adipose tissue chamber, ensuring that blood supply adequacy is established in advance rather than relying on spontaneous vascularization after transplantation.
3Ease of manufacture
If adipose tissue is transplanted without adequate oxygenation, then reconstruction is simplified, but tissue viability and integration deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing enhanced oxygenation specifically where needed - in the second chamber adjacent to the adipose tissue - rather than attempting to oxygenate the entire reconstruction uniformly. This localized approach maintains reconstruction simplicity while ensuring tissue viability through targeted oxygen delivery to the critical adipose tissue region.
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 hydrogel devices provide a stable, biocompatible environment for adipose tissue, ensuring adequate blood and oxygen supply, potentially enhancing transplant outcomes and patient quality of life by improving breast reconstruction and potentially serving as a platform for breast cancer treatment.
Implementation Method 1
a continuous hydrogel matrix
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are hydrogel devices and methods of making an use thereof. The devices can comprise: a continuous hydrogel matrix; a first chamber in the hydrogel matrix; and a second chamber in the hydrogel matrix; wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are each independently perfusable; wherein the first chamber is fluidly independent from the second chamber; wherein the first chamber is configured to be at least partially filled with adipose tissue; wherein the second chamber is configured to be at least partially filled with an oxygenated fluid; wherein the first chamber is defined by a first border; wherein the second chamber is defined by a second border; and wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are spaced apart from each other by an average distance of from 50 micrometers (microns, μm) to 800 μm as measured from the first border to the second border.