Biodegradable Polymer Scaffold with Adjustable Rigidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies for biodegradable polymer scaffolds for prostheses face challenges in providing customized support and drug delivery rates tailored to specific affected areas and patient conditions, while also requiring additional surgeries for removal and causing pain during rehabilitation.
Innovation Solution
A polymer scaffold comprising an inner sheet made of biodegradable synthetic polymer material with a network-like structure of fine nanofibers, surrounded by a biodegradable natural polymer outer shell, which can be customized in size, shape, and material composition to match specific affected areas and patient needs, and manufactured using techniques such as electrospinning and 3D printing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a tube-shaped instrument is used to fill liquid at the surgical site, then the surgical site is protected and rehabilitation pain is reduced, but the tube requires precision instrumentation to prevent leakage and needs separate removal surgery
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the essential function of the tube (protecting surgical site and delivering drug) and implements it through a biodegradable polymer scaffold that degrades naturally in the body, eliminating the need for removal surgery and complex precision instrumentation while maintaining reliable protection
Solution Approach 2:
The biodegradable polymer scaffold acts as a temporary, disposable structure that performs its protective and drug delivery functions then degrades naturally in the body, eliminating the need for removal surgery and reducing overall treatment complexity and cost
2Adaptability or versatility
If biodegradable polymer scaffold is used for tissue regeneration, then customization is enabled, but drug delivery speed control is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention controls drug delivery speed by changing physical parameters of the scaffold structure, specifically the crosslinking degree of the polymer network, which regulates mesh size and thereby controls the diffusion rate of therapeutic agents without requiring complex mechanical control mechanisms
3Duration of action of moving object
If collagen is attached to ligament for repair, then biodegradability is achieved, but the support strength is weak and fixation is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses composite materials combining biodegradable polymers (PLA, PLGA, PCL) with natural polymers (collagen, chitosan, alginate) to achieve both biodegradability and sufficient mechanical strength, where the synthetic polymer provides structural integrity and the natural polymer provides biocompatibility and drug delivery capabilities
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 scaffold provides adjustable internal rigidity and elasticity, enabling customized support and drug delivery rates, reducing the need for additional surgeries, minimizing pain during rehabilitation, and facilitating tailored treatment based on individual patient conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the synthetic polymer matrix has a network-like structure in which fine nanofibers are formed by amorphous stacking, which makes it possible to control the diameter and the stacking density of the fine nanofibers
Implementation Method 2
or the inner sheet is formed by 3D printing, and the inner sheet is formed with bends or folds at regular intervals along the length or width direction
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed to providing a polymer scaffold for a prosthesis that may have a size and supporting force that may accurately correspond to a certain affected area, may also contain a maximum amount of a therapeutic drug, may be immediately applied in a customized manner to an affected area that has not been prepared in advance, and may provide a stable supporting force of the affected area throughout the treatment period, and a method of manufacturing the same. The polymer scaffold for a prosthesis according to the present invention and the method of manufacturing the same have an effect of allowing the internal rigidity and elasticity to be adjusted so that they can be provided in a customized manner to patients.