Resorbable Collagen Matrix with Interconnected Pores for Wound Healing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing biologic matrices for wound healing and tissue regeneration lack sufficient effective surface area and porosity, which hampers cellular infiltration, integration, and remodeling, leading to suboptimal healing outcomes.
Innovation Solution
Development of three-dimensional, resorbable collagen scaffolds derived from perfusion-decellularized mammalian organs or tissues with a porous structure and interconnected pores, enhanced by antimicrobial agents like silver or methylene blue, and designed for transparency or translucency to facilitate real-time monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a non-porous scaffold structure is used, then manufacturing is simpler and mechanical strength is higher, but effective surface area is reduced which hampers cellular infiltration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies porous materials by creating a three-dimensional scaffold with interconnected pores and voids throughout its structure. This porous architecture dramatically increases the effective surface area compared to a non-porous scaffold of the same outer dimensions, providing numerous attachment sites and pathways for cellular infiltration while maintaining structural integrity through the strategic arrangement of porous elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional or non-porous structure to a three-dimensional porous structure. By incorporating voids and interconnected pores in multiple dimensions, the scaffold creates additional surface area and pathways for cell migration without significantly increasing the overall outer dimensions, effectively utilizing spatial arrangement to maximize surface area.
2Productivity
If porosity is increased to promote cellular infiltration, then wound healing is accelerated, but mechanical strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs porous materials with optimized pore size, distribution, and interconnectivity to achieve a balance between mechanical strength and cellular infiltration. The porous structure provides sufficient surface area for cell attachment and migration while maintaining load-bearing capacity through the strategic arrangement of collagen fibers and voids.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes composite materials by combining collagen scaffold with antimicrobial agents and growth factors. This composite approach enhances the biological activity and mechanical properties of the scaffold, providing both structural support and functional benefits for wound healing while maintaining porosity for cellular infiltration.
3Reliability
If antimicrobial agents are incorporated to prevent infection, then infection risk is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating antimicrobial agents into the scaffold structure during the manufacturing process. The antimicrobial agents are integrated into the collagen matrix or deposited onto the scaffold surface before implantation, ensuring immediate infection prevention capability without requiring additional post-implantation steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining the collagen scaffold with antimicrobial agents such as silver or methylene blue. This composite structure allows the antimicrobial properties to be inherently part of the scaffold, providing continuous infection prevention while maintaining the mechanical and biological functions of the original scaffold.
4Ease of operation
If the matrix is made transparent or translucent for monitoring, then real-time visual assessment is enabled, but mechanical strength may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by utilizing the natural optical properties of collagen and incorporating antimicrobial agents that may have specific optical characteristics. The scaffold is designed to be transparent or translucent to allow visual monitoring of wound healing progress while the collagen matrix and antimicrobial agents provide the necessary mechanical strength and functional properties.
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 enhanced surface area and porosity promote accelerated wound healing and tissue regeneration, with improved cellular infiltration, integration, and remodeling, while the antimicrobial properties reduce infection risk and transparent design allows for precise treatment adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
The gas is introduced through the vascular pathways, causing the organ or tissue to expand three-dimensionally relative to its non-inflated configuration
Implementation Method 2
The biologic matrix includes a plurality of interstitial voids within the porous structure, allowing for cellular infiltration within two weeks post-implant
Implementation Method 3
The biologic matrix incorporates antimicrobial agents, such as silver or methylene blue, which are perfused into the vascular pathways of the mammalian organ or tissue following its perfusion decellularization. This feature enhances the matrix's antimicrobial properties and aids in preventing infection at the wound site
Data Source
AI summary
A biologic matrix comprises a three-dimensional, resorbable collagen scaffold derived from a vascularized portion of a perfusion-decellularized, suspension-dried mammalian organ or tissue. The scaffold features a porous structure with a plurality of interconnected pores originating from one or more of its outer surfaces. The pores are created by forcing a gas through the vascular pathways of the mammalian organ or tissue while it is in a suspended position. This enables the gas to inflate the vascular pathways in all directions without restriction. The porous configuration substantially enhances the scaffold's effective surface area, making it at least 10 times greater than that of a non-porous scaffold having equivalent outer dimensions. In certain embodiments, the surface area considering the interconnected pores can be 15 times larger or more than the non-porous scaffold of equivalent outer dimensions.