Resorbable Mesh with Elastic Fibers for Shape Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional resorbable polymeric mesh implants used in medical reconstruction lack true elastic behavior, failing to resume their original shape after deformation.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating elastic fibers arranged within the knit pattern of a resorbable polymeric mesh, allowing the mesh to elongate under stress and return to its original shape upon release, with optional additional fibers to lock movement and control degradation times for enhanced mechanical properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional resorbable polymeric mesh implants are used, then the mesh provides structural support and gradually degrades over time, but the mesh lacks true elastic behavior and fails to resume its original shape after deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines conventional resorbable polymeric fibers with elastic fibers to create a composite mesh structure. The elastic fibers are integrated into the knit pattern alongside the structural fibers, creating a material that exhibits both structural support properties and elastic recovery properties. This composite approach allows the mesh to resume its original shape after deformation while maintaining the gradual degradation characteristics of the resorbable material.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies elastic fibers selectively within specific regions of the mesh structure, particularly within the knit pattern openings. By localizing elastic properties to specific areas of the mesh rather than uniformly throughout, the invention achieves shape recovery in the critical deformation zones while maintaining the overall structural integrity and degradation profile of the resorbable mesh.
2Stability of the object's composition
If elastic fibers are added to the mesh to enable reversible deformation, then the mesh resumes its original shape after stretching, but the structural complexity of the knit pattern increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the elastic fibers with the existing knit pattern structure rather than creating a separate, complex reinforcement system. The elastic fibers are incorporated into the knit pattern openings in a way that integrates them with the structural fibers, allowing the knit pattern itself to provide both structural support and elastic recovery functions without requiring additional complex components or layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic fibers within the knit pattern openings serve multiple functions: they provide elastic recovery, they contribute to the overall structural integrity, and they degrade at controlled rates alongside the structural fibers. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems to achieve shape recovery, thereby simplifying the overall device complexity despite the added elastic capability.
3Duration of action of moving object
If multiple fiber sets with different degradation times are used, then the mesh exhibits controlled mechanical properties over time, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes fibers with different degradation parameters (times) to create a mesh that evolves its mechanical properties over time. By selecting fibers with appropriate degradation characteristics and incorporating them into the knit pattern, the invention achieves controlled mechanical behavior without requiring extremely precise manufacturing tolerances. The degradation time differences provide a temporal dimension for property control rather than requiring spatial precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the fiber population into different sets with distinct degradation characteristics, allowing each fiber type to contribute to the mesh properties at different time points. This segmentation enables controlled mechanical evolution over time while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing processes, as the different fiber types can be incorporated using standard knit pattern techniques without requiring high-precision alignment or positioning.
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 mesh exhibits reversible deformability, resuming its original shape after stretching and maintaining mechanical integrity through controlled degradation, addressing the limitations of existing meshes in medical applications.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic fiber is arranged in each aperture such that when the mesh and thereby the first knit pattern is stretched in a first direction, the elastic fibers are subjected to a force (stress), which causes an elongation or length deformation (strain) of the elastic fibers. When the stretching of the mesh implant is discontinued and the mesh is released and free to relax, the elastic fibers resume their original lengths.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a polymeric mesh implant for use in reconstruction of tissue defects, which mesh implant comprises a first set of fibers arranged in a first knit pattern comprising apertures, wherein each aperture, or a subset thereof, comprises an elastic fiber arranged in a first direction of the mesh implant such that when the mesh implant is stretched in this first direction, the elastic fibers are elongated and also exert a restoring force on the first knit pattern.