Thin Spacer Prosthesis for Joint Friction Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for joint damage and disease, such as biological resurfacing and prosthetic replacement, face high failure rates and significant healthcare costs due to the slow healing of cartilage and irreversible surgical destruction.
Innovation Solution
A thin, low-friction spacer prosthesis is placed between articular surfaces of bone members to reduce friction and prevent wear, allowing for normal joint movement without damaging existing tissue, and can be customized for various joints, including those without menisci, using biocompatible materials like metal or polymers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If biological resurfacing techniques are used to reconstitute cartilage, then cartilage regeneration is attempted, but the treatment has high failure rate due to slow cartilage healing and destruction from joint movement
Solution Approach 1:
A biocompatible spacer prosthesis is introduced as an intermediary device between the opposing articular surfaces. This spacer protects the damaged cartilage and subchondral bone from direct contact and mechanical destruction during joint movement, allowing the cartilage to heal without the harmful effects of friction and pressure. The spacer acts as a temporary mediator that enables the biological healing process to succeed.
2Reliability
If prosthetic replacement is performed to replace damaged joint surfaces, then joint function is restored, but the surgery is biologically destructive and irreversible with high healthcare costs
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of completely replacing the joint surfaces with prosthetics, the invention uses a partial solution - a thin spacer prosthesis that only fills the defective space between the articular surfaces. This partial action preserves the natural bone and cartilage structures while providing the necessary mechanical protection, avoiding the biological destruction and irreversibility of complete prosthetic replacement.
3Ease of operation
If joint movement is allowed to maintain joint functionality, then joint remains functional, but movement destroys new cartilage and prevents healing
Solution Approach 1:
The biocompatible spacer prosthesis is placed beforehand to cushion and protect the damaged cartilage and subchondral bone from the harmful effects of joint movement. The spacer absorbs and distributes the mechanical forces that would otherwise directly damage the healing tissue, allowing normal joint movement to occur without destroying the regenerating cartilage.
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 spacer prosthesis reduces friction and wear, promotes healing by distributing load, and allows for future treatment options, providing a non-destructive solution for joint damage that preserves existing tissue and facilitates faster rehabilitation.
Implementation Method 1
a thin spacing prosthesis with preferably at least one low friction surface
Implementation Method 2
promotes healing by distributing load
Data Source
AI summary
A biocompatible prosthetic device comprising a thin low friction spacer for location to overlie a bone member in an interpositional location between opposed bone joint articular surfaces. The prosthesis is preferably a thin spacer with at least one low friction surface, the spacer being adapted for location about a bone member in an interpositional location between opposed bone joint articular surfaces preferably about a margin of articular cartilage of a bone member's condyle, preferably without any modification of the articular surface of the condyle. One preferred use of a prosthesis is in a human temporomandibular joint as a thin cap-like member fitted closely over the mandibular condyle to be disposed intermediate of the mandibular condyle and the mandibular fossa of the temporomandibular joint.