Biodegradable Polyurethane Matrix for Tissue Scaffolds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical implants face challenges such as adverse tissue responses, difficulty in engineering controlled pore sizes for tissue ingrowth, and the generation of undesirable materials during polymerization, which limit their effectiveness as biodegradable scaffolds for tissue augmentation and repair.
Innovation Solution
A biocompatible, cross-linked, biodegradable polyurethane matrix with a continuous-interconnected void phase is developed, comprising biodegradable polyol-derived soft segments and isocyanate-derived hard segments, which are reticulated to achieve high Darcy permeability and are free from harmful groups like biuret and allophanate, allowing for tissue ingrowth and eventual degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If polyurethane foams are formed by blowing during polymerization, then the material can be produced, but undesirable materials such as carcinogens and cytotoxins are generated during polymerization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the polymerization process by using alternative blowing agents and modified polyurethane formulations that eliminate the formation of harmful biuret and allophanate groups, thereby producing biocompatible foams without carcinogenic or cytotoxic byproducts
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful components (biuret and allophanate groups) from the polymerization process by using controlled reaction conditions and selective chemistry, resulting in a purified polymer structure that is safe for biological implantation
2Duration of action of moving object
If the matrix is made biodegradable, then it can be absorbed by the body, but it may cause adverse tissue responses during degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the polyurethane to create a degradation profile that releases only biocompatible products, changing the molecular structure to eliminate groups that cause adverse tissue responses while maintaining controlled biodegradability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of degradation byproducts into a benefit by designing a degradation pathway that produces only beneficial or neutral substances (such as carbon dioxide and water) that support tissue healing rather than causing inflammation or toxicity
3Ease of operation
If the matrix is compressed for delivery, then it can be delivered through a catheter, but it must expand and recover to occupy the biological site
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamic material structure with reversible cross-linking that allows the matrix to transition between compressed and expanded states, providing the necessary compliance for catheter delivery while maintaining the strength to expand and occupy the target site after implantation
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 solution enables the matrix to be ingrown by biological tissue, remodel to match surrounding tissue, and degrade in a controlled manner, promoting tissue integration and repair while avoiding adverse biological reactions.
Implementation Method 1
the polyurethane degrades in a body of an animal to cause a loss of weight of the matrix
Implementation Method 2
the matrix having a continuous-interconnected void phase wherein the matrix is configured to be in-grown by a biological tissue
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to reticulated elastomeric matrices, and more particularly to at least partially degradable elastomeric elements that are compressible and exhibit resilience in their recovery and that can be employed in diverse applications including, without limitation, biological implantation, especially in humans.