Spacer Core With Acrylic Cement Coating For Drug Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spacer devices for treating arthroprosthesis infections, such as hip prostheses, have limited duration of pharmaceutical and therapeutic product release, requiring prolonged body retention and supporting mechanical stresses, which complicates successful treatment.
Innovation Solution
A core for a spacer device featuring a stem and collar covered with acrylic bone cement containing pharmaceutical products, with through openings for material accumulation, allowing extended release of therapeutic substances and improved mechanical strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If the spacer device remains in the body for a prolonged time period to extend pharmaceutical product release, then the release duration is improved, but the device must support mechanical stresses and loads from patient movements, which complicates the design and may compromise reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer device employs a composite structure combining a metallic core (titanium alloy or stainless steel) with acrylic bone cement coating. This composite construction provides both the mechanical strength needed to withstand physiological loads and the capability to deliver pharmaceutical products over extended periods. The metallic core ensures structural integrity while the cement layer enables drug reservoir function.
Solution Approach 2:
The acrylic bone cement is applied in a porous state and allowed to solidify, creating a matrix that can store and gradually release pharmaceutical products. The porous structure increases the drug reservoir capacity and controls the release kinetics, enabling prolonged therapeutic action without compromising the mechanical framework.
2Duration of action of moving object
If the spacer device is designed with complex structures to improve pharmaceutical product release, then the release efficacy is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pharmaceutical products are incorporated into the acrylic bone cement during the manufacturing process itself, before the spacer is implanted. The cement is mixed with the drugs in the desired concentration and applied to the core in a controlled environment. This preliminary incorporation simplifies production by combining material application and drug loading in a single step, avoiding complex post-manufacturing drug delivery system assembly.
3Weight of moving object
If the spacer device uses lightweight materials to reduce patient burden, then the weight is reduced, but the mechanical strength and ability to support physiological loads may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer utilizes a composite construction with a lightweight metallic core (titanium alloy or stainless steel) that provides high strength-to-weight ratio. The metallic core ensures adequate mechanical strength to support physiological loads while minimizing overall device weight. The acrylic bone cement coating adds minimal weight while providing the pharmaceutical delivery function.
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 core enables prolonged release of pharmaceutical and therapeutic products, enhancing treatment efficacy while maintaining mechanical strength and simplicity, reducing production costs, and allowing surgeons to adapt to patient needs.
Implementation Method 1
a layer of a coating material comprising acrylic bone cement... containing said-coating material, or containing a material comprising acrylic bone cement added with one or a plurality of pharmaceutical products or active and/or therapeutic substances
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 5~7
AI summary
Core (1) for a spacer, comprising a main body that comprises a plurality of through openings (46), adapted to be secured in a corresponding residual bone bed of a previous implant; the main body being adapted to be covered with a layer (S) of a coating material or a material comprising acrylic bone cement added or that can be added with one or a plurality of pharmaceutical products or active and/or therapeutic substances.