Implantable Prosthesis Layered Structure Adhesion Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing prosthetic materials for soft tissue or muscle defects often lead to undesirable postoperative adhesions and tissue attachment issues, requiring solutions that balance tissue ingrowth promotion with adhesion prevention.
Innovation Solution
A prosthesis design featuring a layered structure with a tissue ingrowth layer and a barrier layer to inhibit adhesions, incorporating a resilient stiffening member surrounded by a sleeve to facilitate manipulation and deployment, and a support assembly for stability, using biocompatible materials like knitted polypropylene mesh and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a prosthetic fabric is used to repair tissue defects, then tissue integration is achieved through tissue ingrowth, but undesirable postoperative adhesions and tissue attachment occur
Solution Approach 1:
The prosthetic device is divided into two distinct layers: a first layer (mesh fabric) that promotes tissue ingrowth for reliable integration, and a second layer (adhesion barrier) that prevents harmful adhesions. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function without interference, resolving the contradiction between achieving tissue integration and preventing adhesions.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the prosthetic device have different properties: the first layer has a knit structure with larger interstices to promote tissue ingrowth, while the second layer has a micro mesh structure with smaller interstices to inhibit adhesion formation. This local differentiation of material properties allows the device to simultaneously achieve tissue integration in some areas and prevent adhesions in others.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a prosthesis is covered with an adhesion resistant barrier, then adhesion formation is inhibited, but tissue ingrowth may be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The device separates the adhesion barrier function from the tissue ingrowth function by using two distinct layers. The first layer (mesh fabric) allows tissue ingrowth while the second layer (adhesion barrier) prevents adhesions, ensuring that one layer's protective function does not compromise the other layer's integrative function.
Solution Approach 2:
The prosthetic device combines two different material structures: a knit mesh fabric for tissue ingrowth and a micro mesh adhesion barrier. This composite construction allows the device to exhibit both tissue-promoting and adhesion-preventing properties simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between these opposing requirements.
3Ease of operation
If a stiffening member is provided to facilitate placement and support, then manipulation and deployment are improved, but the prosthesis may become too rigid for patient acceptance
Solution Approach 1:
The stiffening member is completely enclosed by a flexible mesh fabric sleeve that acts as a thin film shell. This flexible enclosure allows the stiffening member to provide structural support and facilitate manipulation during implantation, while simultaneously allowing the overall device to remain flexible and adaptable to the patient's anatomy for postoperative comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The stiffening member is nested within the mesh fabric sleeve, creating a nested structure where the rigid inner component provides support and the flexible outer component provides adaptability. This nesting arrangement allows both rigid and flexible properties to coexist within a single integrated device.
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 design promotes tissue ingrowth while minimizing adhesions, providing ease of implantation, stability, and flexibility, suitable for various soft tissue or muscle wall defects, including hernias and large defects in obese patients, by allowing tissue growth and supporting stress loads effectively.
Implementation Method 1
The stiffening member may be resilient
Implementation Method 2
The mesh fabric may include a knitted polypropylene mesh
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
An implantable prosthesis is provided for repairing an anatomical defect, such as a tissue or muscle defect, that promotes tissue of muscle ingrowth into the prosthesis and subsequently strengthens the area of the defect. The prosthesis is easy to manipulate and may be designed to minimize the incidence of postoperative adhesions between a portion of the prosthesis and surrounding tissue or organs. The prosthesis may include one or more layers of biologically compatible material that is suitable for repairing a defect. The prosthesis may include a support assembly to facilitate manipulation and deployment of the prosthesis. The support assembly may include a stiffening member that is surrounded by material that separates the stiffening member from the layer of material. The stiffening member may be located in a sleeve of material, such as mesh fabric. The stiffening member may be formed from a resorbable material.