Synthetic Bone Tactile Feedback via Composite Resin
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current synthetic bones lack realistic tactile feel, failing to accurately replicate the differential properties between cortical and cancellous bone, which is crucial for surgical training, as they do not provide sufficient resistance or match the anatomical feel, leading to inadequate training for surgeons.
Innovation Solution
The development of synthetic bones using a combination of plastic casting resin, pore-inducing additives, hardness-altering agents, and fibers to create formulations that mimic the tactile and material properties of cortical and cancellous bone, including specific additives like bentonite and collagen, to achieve a Shore hardness range that simulates the feel of human bone.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If synthetic bones use basic plastic materials, then manufacturing is simple and cost-effective, but tactile realism and differential bone feel are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials combining plastic casting resin with pore-inducing additives (such as calcium carbonate, bentonite, or glass beads) and hardness-altering additives (such as collagen, gelatin, or silica). This composite approach allows the synthetic bone to replicate both the tactile feel and mechanical properties of real bone while maintaining ease of manufacturing through conventional casting processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates pore-inducing additives that create a porous internal structure within the synthetic bone material. This porosity replicates the cancellous bone architecture found in real bones, providing realistic tactile feedback during surgical procedures while maintaining structural integrity and ease of manufacturing.
2Ease of manufacture
If synthetic bones use uniform material properties, then manufacturing is straightforward, but they cannot replicate differential feel between cortical and cancellous bone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating regions with different material properties within the same synthetic bone structure. The outer cortical bone region uses a denser formulation with less porosity and higher hardness, while the inner cancellous bone region uses a more porous formulation with lower hardness. This allows the synthetic bone to replicate the differential tactile feel of real bone during surgical procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the synthetic bone into distinct regions (cortical and cancellous) with different material formulations. This segmentation enables each region to have optimized properties for its specific function, with cortical bone providing structural strength and cancellous bone providing realistic tactile feedback during drilling and cutting operations.
3Ease of operation
If synthetic bones lack realistic resistance, then they are easy to machine, but they do not provide adequate training value for surgical force control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the synthetic bone material by adjusting the ratio of plastic resin to pore-inducing and hardness-altering additives. This creates a material with optimized resistance properties that closely match real bone, providing realistic tactile feedback during surgical procedures while remaining machinable with standard surgical instruments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a physical copy of real bone tissue by replicating its key properties (porosity, hardness, density) using synthetic materials. This copying approach allows surgeons to practice on a material that closely mimics the tactile and mechanical properties of real bone, providing authentic training value while maintaining ease of manufacturing and operation.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If synthetic bones use simple formulations, then they are non-toxic and safe, but they lack anatomical accuracy and realistic feel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials consisting of biocompatible plastic casting resin combined with medically safe pore-inducing additives (such as calcium carbonate, bentonite, or glass beads) and hardness-altering additives (such as collagen, gelatin, or silica). This composite formulation achieves both non-toxicity and anatomical accuracy, allowing the synthetic bone to replicate real bone properties while maintaining safety for surgical training applications.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to synthetic bones used in bone-related human and animal education, product demonstration, product development, surgical technique discussions, anatomical demonstrations and biomechanical research. The synthetic bones consisting of cortical an cancellous bones containing a plastic casting resin, a pore inducing additive and a hardness-altering additive.