Resorbable Implant Sections With Controlled Degradation Rates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing resorbable implants degrade uniformly, leading to uncontrolled breakdown and potential complications such as inflammation, fistulas, allergic reactions, and the need for additional surgery, while current methods for controlling degradation are inadequate for section-specific requirements.

Innovation Solution

An implant with distinct sections having different degradation rates, achieved through varying cavity structures and filling densities, allowing controlled degradation tailored to specific functional needs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If resorbable implants are used to avoid surgical removal, then the need for additional surgery is eliminated, but the degradation is not controllable and leads to inflammation and fistulas

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelimination of surgical removalVSAvoiduncontrolled degradation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The implant is divided into multiple sections, each with different cavity structures and filling densities. This segmentation allows different regions to degrade at different rates, providing controlled degradation while maintaining the resorbable nature of the implant.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the implant are assigned different local properties through varying cavity structures and filling densities. Critical sections have higher filling densities for slower degradation, while non-critical sections have lower filling densities for faster degradation, enabling localized control over degradation behavior.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If resorbable materials are used to avoid permanent implants, then surgical removal is not needed, but the implant lacks stability for complex or large bone fractures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveavoidance of surgical removalVSAvoidstability for bone fractures
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The implant structure is segmented into critical and non-critical sections. Critical sections with higher filling densities maintain structural integrity and strength where needed for bone fracture support, while non-critical sections degrade faster.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different local regions of the implant have different filling densities tailored to their functional requirements. Load-bearing critical sections have higher filling densities for greater strength, while non-load-bearing sections have lower filling densities for controlled degradation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If uniform degradation is used to simplify implant design, then manufacturing is easier, but section-specific functional requirements cannot be met

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuniform degradation designVSAvoidsection-specific degradation control
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The implant is segmented into multiple sections with distinct cavity structures. This segmentation enables different degradation rates in different sections while maintaining a relatively simple overall design that can be manufactured using standard techniques.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The implant incorporates local quality variations through different filling densities in different sections. This allows the implant to adapt to section-specific functional requirements without requiring a completely complex design, balancing simplicity with versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

Enables targeted control of implant degradation, improving healing by ensuring critical sections maintain structural integrity longer, reducing complications, and facilitating surgical-free removal.

Implementation Method 1

The implant (1) has a first cavity structure (10) with a first filling density and a second cavity structure (14) with a second filling density

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPorosity control: Porosity

Data Source

PatentEP4294468B1Implant for implanting in an organism and procedure
Publication Date: 2025.10.08 FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV
  • EP4294468B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4294468B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4294468B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an implant (1, T) for implanting in an organism, in particular in the human body, and to a method for producing an implant (1, 1'). The invention relates in particular to an implant (1, T) for implanting in an organism, in particular in the human body, comprising a first implant portion (2), which has a first rate of degradation, and a second implant portion (6), which has a second rate of degradation, wherein the first rate of degradation is less than the second rate of degradation, and wherein the implant (1, T) consists of a resorbable material or comprises same.