Porous Bioabsorbable Suture Ring for Tissue Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing suture rings made from synthetic materials are prone to thrombus, fibrosis, pannus, and bacterial attachment, leading to potential valve failure and infection, and require replacement over time.
Innovation Solution
A bioabsorbable electrospun hollow-cored porous suture ring made from biodegradable polymers, with a porous structure and controlled pore size, allowing for tissue integration and reducing the need for long-term implantation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If suture rings are made from synthetic materials, then structural strength and durability are improved, but thrombus formation, fibrosis, and bacterial attachment increase
Solution Approach 1:
The suture ring is constructed from porous material with controlled pore sizes (5-50 micrometers) that enables tissue ingrowth and integration. This porosity allows natural tissue to penetrate and replace the synthetic material over time, reducing long-term thrombus formation and fibrosis while maintaining initial structural strength during the healing period.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite material construction combining synthetic porous polymer material with bioabsorbable properties. The material is designed to provide initial mechanical strength similar to synthetic rings, then gradually degrade and be replaced by natural tissue, eliminating the need for permanent synthetic material that causes thrombus and fibrosis.
2Stability of the object's composition
If suture rings are made from synthetic materials, then structural stability is improved, but bacterial attachment and infection risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The porous structure with interconnected pores facilitates tissue ingrowth that creates a biological barrier against bacterial attachment. The pore architecture allows host tissue to penetrate and envelop the suture ring, reducing direct bacterial contact with the synthetic material surface and lowering infection risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The material parameters are specifically designed to change over time - the porous polymer is engineered to be bioabsorbable and gradually degrade. This parameter change from stable synthetic material to degrading bioabsorbable material reduces long-term bacterial attachment risk while maintaining short-term structural stability needed for surgical implantation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If suture rings are made from bioabsorbable material, then tissue integration is improved, but initial structural strength may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The porous polymer material provides both bioabsorbability for tissue integration and adequate initial structural strength through its engineered pore architecture. The interconnected pore structure maintains mechanical integrity while allowing cell infiltration and tissue growth, achieving both tissue integration and sufficient initial strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The suture ring is designed with dynamic properties where the material gradually transitions from providing structural support to being replaced by natural tissue. The bioabsorbable polymer maintains strength during the critical early healing period, then progressively degrades as tissue integration progresses, creating a dynamic strength profile that adapts to healing needs.
4Ease of manufacture
If suture rings are made from non-porous material, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but bioabsorption and tissue ingrowth are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The manufacturing process creates controlled porosity in the suture ring through electrospinning techniques that form a porous polymer structure. This porous architecture enables tissue ingrowth and bioabsorption while maintaining manufacturing efficiency through a single-step electrospinning process that produces the porous structure directly without requiring additional pore-forming steps.
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 electrospun suture ring provides flexibility, strength, and bioabsorption, minimizing thrombus, fibrosis, and bacterial attachment, facilitating tissue integration and reducing the need for reoperation.
Implementation Method 1
The porous nature of the suture ring is important as it makes the suture ring bioabsorbable and therewith capable of being absorbed and replaced by natural tissue due to ingrowth of cells and nutrients into pores of the electrospun hollow-cored biodegradable suture ring.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical implant is provided defined as an electrospun hollow-cored porous suture ring. The suture ring is a continuous ring made by rolling up circular sheet of electrospun material, which was electrospun over a cylindrical target. The suture ring, upon implantation, is capable of being absorbed and replaced by natural tissue due to ingrowth of cells and nutrients into pores of the electrospun hollow-cored biodegradable suture ring. The suture ring addresses at least some of the existing problems with suture or sewing rings.