Polymeric Bone Implant with Bioactive Fillers for Stress-Shielding Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional metallic implants for bone regeneration in veterinary orthopedics face challenges such as stress-shielding, debris formation, and peri-prosthetic bone loss due to their rigidity, which hinders natural bone healing and complicates revision surgeries, while existing composite implants lack flexibility and diversity in clinical applications.
Innovation Solution
A bone implant comprising an array of adjacent polymeric casings, at least one encasing a bioactive bone void filler not attached to its casing, and a reinforcement component, which can be filled with materials like carbon, glass, or ceramics, providing flexibility and customizable load-bearing properties through 3D printing and adjustable bioresorption rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional rigid metal plates are used for fracture fixation, then mechanical stability and strength are improved, but natural micromotions are diminished leading to stress-shielding and delayed bone healing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from rigid metal to resilient polymer, fundamentally altering the mechanical properties of the implant. This allows the implant to maintain strength while enabling natural micromotions that promote bone healing, directly resolving the contradiction between mechanical stability and bone healing rate
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials consisting of resilient polymer matrix combined with osteoconductive ceramic particles. This composite structure provides both the mechanical resilience needed for micromotions and the osteoconductive properties that enhance bone regeneration, simultaneously addressing both requirements
2Reliability
If metallic implants are used, then resistance to physiological loading and corrosion is improved, but stress-shielding and peri-prosthetic bone loss occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters from metal to bioresorbable polymer composite, fundamentally altering how the implant interacts with physiological loads over time. The resilient polymer provides immediate load resistance while gradually degrading, allowing controlled transfer of stress to healing bone, thereby eliminating stress-shielding and preventing bone loss
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs biresorbable materials that gradually degrade and are replaced by natural bone tissue over time. This discarding of the synthetic implant and recovery of natural bone structure prevents long-term complications like stress-shielding and peri-prosthetic bone loss, while maintaining reliability during the critical healing period
3Adaptability or versatility
If customized implant shapes are required, then adaptability to specific fracture patterns is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different regions of the implant to have different properties - the polymer matrix provides resilience while embedded ceramic particles provide osteoconduction in specific areas. This enables customization of implant shape and function without proportionally increasing manufacturing complexity, as the base polymer structure can be easily molded into various configurations
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a technological platform for bone regeneration. More specifically, the invention provides an implant comprising a plurality of polymeric casings at least one of which encases a bone void filler and at least one reinforcement component. Also provided is a method of regenerating bone by implanting one or more implants according to the present invention to a bone repair site.