Surgical Implant Fluid Paths for Stable Material Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current materials used during implant surgery, such as liquid or gel-like delivered materials, often get dislodged or squeezed out due to implant seating, making it difficult to maintain them in a fixed position.
Innovation Solution
A surgical implant with inlet and outlet ports configured to receive and deliver materials through fluid paths, allowing precise placement of materials at predetermined locations, including a porous surface for broader distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If liquid or gel-like delivered materials are used during implant surgery, then the materials can be provided to increase bone growth and fill voids, but the materials are difficult to maintain in a fixed position and may be squeezed out or dislodged due to implant seating
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is divided into multiple functional zones with dedicated ports: a first port for receiving delivered material and a second port for providing the material to the bone interface. This segmentation allows the implant body to act as a containment structure that prevents material dislodgement while enabling controlled delivery to the bone interface, resolving the contradiction between material stability and delivery effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant body serves as an intermediary structure between the delivered material and the bone interface. The fluid path within the implant body acts as a conduit that transports material from the first port to the second port, preventing direct contact between the material and external forces that would cause dislodgement, while still enabling the material to reach the bone interface for effective delivery.
2Productivity
If delivered materials are provided to the bone interface, then bone growth and void filling are enhanced, but the materials may be squeezed out during implant seating
Solution Approach 1:
The implant body is pre-configured with a fluid path and multiple ports before surgery. The first port is positioned to receive delivered material and the second port is positioned to deliver the material to the bone interface. This preliminary configuration ensures that when material is delivered during implant seating, it is channeled through the pre-formed fluid path to the bone interface, preventing material loss during the seating process while maintaining effective bone growth enhancement.
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
Enables secure and controlled delivery of materials like drugs, biologics, and bone cement to specific or broader areas around the implant site, enhancing bone growth and void filling.
Implementation Method 1
A fluid path is defined within the implant body that extends from the inlet port to the outlet port
Implementation Method 2
The proximal surface may include a porous portion configured to receive and distribute the delivered material
Data Source
AI summary
A device including a delivery port and a method of delivering a material via a delivery port is disclosed. The device includes a body extending between a proximal surface and a distal surface. The body is sized and configured to be coupled to an anatomical structure at an implantation site. A first inlet port is formed in a distal surface of the body and is sized and configured to receive a first material. A first outlet port is formed in the proximal surface of the body. The first outlet port is coupled to the first inlet port by a first fluid path defined by the body and the first outlet port is sized and configured to provide the first material to a first predetermined location when the body is coupled to the anatomical structure.