Superabsorbent Polymer Disc Rehydration via Osmotic Swelling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for dehydrated intervertebral discs are invasive, complex, and often result in significant trauma and prolonged recovery times, with biological treatments being years away from commercial use, and existing prosthetic solutions being unproven and difficult to implement.

Innovation Solution

Introducing superabsorbent polymers into the intervertebral disc space without removing nucleus pulposus or annulus fibrosis material to rehydrate and maintain disc height, using either 'wet' or 'dry' delivery methods, which are minimally invasive and easily reversible.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If biological treatments are used to induce repair or regeneration of the nucleus, then disc height restoration is improved, but treatment time and complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisc height restorationVSAvoidtreatment time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a biodegradable sponge as an intermediary device that temporarily occupies the nucleus pulposus space and maintains disc height. This sponge acts as a placeholder that prevents disc collapse while the body's natural repair processes occur, eliminating the need for complex biological treatments and reducing treatment time from years to a manageable recovery period.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If prosthetic nucleus devices or total disc replacement are used, then disc height is maintained, but surgical trauma and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisc height maintenanceVSAvoidsurgical trauma

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the degenerated nucleus pulposus material that is causing pain and dysfunction, while preserving the healthy annulus fibrosis and vertebral end-plates. This selective removal approach maintains the natural disc structure and reduces surgical trauma compared to total disc replacement, while the biodegradable sponge fills the created space to maintain disc height.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The biodegradable sponge is designed to degrade naturally in the body over time, allowing the patient's own tissue regeneration processes to restore the nucleus pulposus. This self-service approach eliminates the need for complex prosthetic devices and reduces surgical intervention requirements, as the body performs the final repair work itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If nucleus pulposus or annulus fibrosis material is removed for treatment, then access to the disc space is improved, but structural integrity and recovery time worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisc space accessVSAvoiddisc structural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the treatment approach by separating the degenerated nucleus pulposus (which is removed) from the healthy annulus fibrosis (which is preserved). This segmentation allows minimal access surgery to remove only the problematic material while maintaining the structural integrity of the annulus, and the biodegradable sponge fills the segmented space to maintain overall disc strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 method effectively rehydrates the disc, increases disc height and volume, and maintains intra-discal pressure, providing a simpler, faster, and less invasive treatment option for mild to moderate disc degeneration, reducing the need for surgical interventions like nucleus or total disc replacement.

Implementation Method 1

The resulting osmotic pressure within the intervertebral disc causes it to expand axially

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOsmosis: Osmosis

Implementation Method 2

Introducing superabsorbent polymers into the intervertebral disc space without removing nucleus pulposus or annulus fibrosis material to rehydrate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 3

The nucleus pulposus is an amorphous hydrogel in the center of the intervertebral disc. The method effectively rehydrates the disc, increases disc height and volume, and maintains intra-discal pressure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrogel swelling: Hydrogel

Data Source

PatentUS8801790B2Intervertebral disc augmentation and rehydration with superabsorbent polymers

Publication Date: 2014.08.12 WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC INC

AI summary

The embodiments provide a method for treating an intervertebral disc having a nucleus pulposus and an annulus fibrosis, using one or more superabsorbent polymers. Additionally, the embodiments provide a method for bulking up an intervertebral disc having a nucleus pulposus and an annulus fibrosis, using one or more superabsorbent polymers. The methods comprise introducing an amount of the superabsorbent polymers into the intervertebral disc space without removing nucleus pulposus or annulus fibrosis material.