Resorbable Moulds for Joint Resurfacing With Reduced Tissue Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional orthopedic surgery for joint osteoarthritis is highly invasive, damaging ligaments and tendons, leading to limited motion and increased infection risk due to large incisions required for prosthetic placement.
Innovation Solution
A mould is introduced into the joint to resurface contacting surfaces using a biocompatible material that can be resorbed or melted by the body after serving its purpose, allowing for less invasive procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional orthopedic surgery with large incisions is used to place prosthetic parts, then the joint can be replaced and function restored, but tissue damage increases and infection risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The prosthesis is divided into multiple smaller parts that can be placed through smaller incisions rather than requiring one large incision for the entire prosthetic assembly, reducing tissue damage and infection risk while maintaining joint function
Solution Approach 2:
The prosthesis components are extracted and placed through small incisions in a staged manner rather than requiring large incisions for direct placement, thereby reducing the harmful effects of tissue damage and infection risk
2Reliability
If large incisions are made to access the joint for prosthesis placement, then the prosthetic parts can be placed in contact with the joint, but the recovery time increases and motion range is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical approach is segmented into multiple small incisions rather than one large incision, allowing for reduced tissue trauma and faster healing, which shortens recovery time while still enabling adequate joint access for prosthesis placement
Solution Approach 2:
The surgical access is transformed from a single large incision approach to multiple small incisions distributed across different dimensions, reducing the overall tissue disruption and enabling faster recovery without compromising surgical effectiveness
3Ease of operation
If ligaments and tendons are damaged during surgery, then the joint can be accessed and prosthesis can be placed, but the load carrying capability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical access is divided into multiple small incisions that preserve the integrity of ligaments and tendons, avoiding the need to Severely damage these structures while still providing adequate access to the joint for prosthesis placement
Solution Approach 2:
Small incisions serve as intermediary access points that allow surgical tools and prosthetics to reach the joint without requiring direct disruption of ligaments and tendons, thereby maintaining the strength and load carrying capability of these critical structures
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
This approach reduces tissue damage and infection risk while providing functional joint surfaces, enabling quicker recovery and improved motion range.
Implementation Method 1
The mould comprises a mould material adapted to be resorbed by the human body after having served its purpose
Implementation Method 2
The mould comprises a mould material adapted to be affected by a fluid injected into said mould such that said mould melts
Data Source
AI summary
A method of providing an artificial knee or hip joint surface using a mould, wherein the method comprises the steps of placing the mould inside of the joint, injecting the mould with a fluid adapted to cure, curing the fluid inside of the joint, affecting the mould by the fluid injected into the mould, and resorbing the mould by means of the human body or by melting the mold with the injected material, and subsequently cure the fluid and serve as artificial joint surface.