Self-Healing Nerve Suture Patch for Compression Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional nerve conduits face challenges such as lack of flexibility, difficulty in maintaining shape due to muscle movements, potential for nerve compression, and slow nerve regeneration due to non-absorbable materials and manufacturing limitations, which hinder effective peripheral nerve repair.
Innovation Solution
A self-healing nerve suture patch combining a self-healing polymer with a hydrogel patch, featuring materials like alginate and boronic acid, and a method involving plasma treatment and lamination, providing excellent elasticity and chemical bonding with peripheral nerves to minimize compression and facilitate regeneration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If conventional nerve conduits are made from biodegradable polymers like PLA, then they can be absorbed after nerve regeneration, but they lack flexibility and cannot maintain their shape due to muscle movements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure combining a silicone outer layer with a biodegradable polymer inner layer. The silicone layer provides flexibility and shape maintenance, while the inner layer provides absorbability. This composite material approach resolves the contradiction between being absorbed and maintaining shape.
2Stability of the object's composition
If non-absorbable silicone conduits are used, then they maintain shape and provide structural support, but they do not have porosity for nutrient passage and slow nerve regeneration
Solution Approach 1:
The inner layer of the conduit is designed with porosity to allow nutrient passage and accelerate nerve regeneration. The porous structure enables diffusion of nutrients and waste products while the outer silicone layer maintains the overall shape and structural integrity.
3Manufacturing precision
If conventional nerve conduits are manufactured using conduit molds, then they can be produced with consistent shape, but the manufacturing process is complex and cannot produce conduits below a certain size
Solution Approach 1:
The conduit is manufactured in two separate layers that are subsequently combined. The outer silicone layer and inner biodegradable layer are produced separately and then assembled, simplifying the manufacturing process and enabling production of smaller conduits without complex molds.
4Strength
If the modulus of nerve conduit is different from peripheral nerve, then structural support is provided, but severe nerve compression occurs causing insufficient oxygen supply and nerve necrosis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the mechanical properties of the conduit materials to match the modulus of peripheral nerves. The silicone and biodegradable polymer are formulated to have elastic moduli similar to native nerve tissue, reducing compression while maintaining structural support.
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 self-healing nerve suture patch reduces nerve compression, enhances adhesion, and promotes efficient nerve regeneration by matching the mechanical modulus of peripheral nerves, allowing for flexible and effective nerve repair with reduced risk of necrosis.
Implementation Method 1
a self-healing nerve suture patch including a self-healing polymer and a hydrogel patch
Implementation Method 2
treating the surface of the film with plasma
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a nerve suture patch having a self-healing property, and a production method thereof, and more specifically, to a self-healing nerve suture patch containing a self-healing polymer and a hydrogel, and a production method thereof. The nerve suture patch may be rapidly attached to epineurium by the adhesiveness of the hydrogel and easily suture a damaged nerve.