Tendon-Ligament Interface Device with Trabecular Porosity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current devices for tendon and ligament reconstruction fail to replicate the mechanical gradient between tendon/ligament and bone tissue, preventing proper cell differentiation and integration, as they lack the necessary deformability and porosity to mimic the natural tissue interface.

Innovation Solution

A device with a trabecular structure and varying porosity zones is designed to anchor filamentous structures, mimicking the bone-tendon interface by using a tweezer-screw assembly or porous plate, allowing for different strains and promoting cell differentiation into tendon, fibrocartilage, and bone tissue types.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single scaffold structure is used for tendon regeneration, then the device is simple in structure, but it cannot provide the gradient of deformability needed for cell differentiation into different tissue types

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegradient of deformabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into multiple segments with distinct functions: a first scaffold portion for tendon regeneration, a second scaffold portion for bone regeneration, and an intermediate portion for fibrocartilage formation. Each segment provides different mechanical properties and porosity to guide specific cell differentiation, thereby achieving the gradient of deformability without requiring a single complex structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the device are designed with locally optimized properties: the first scaffold portion has higher porosity and elasticity for tendon fibroblast differentiation, the intermediate portion has transitional properties for fibrocartilage formation, and the second scaffold portion has lower porosity for osteoblast differentiation. This local differentiation of properties enables the gradient effect while maintaining overall structural coherence.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If a rigid anchoring device is used to secure the scaffold to bone, then the anchoring strength is high, but it prevents proper cell differentiation by not providing the necessary mechanical gradient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanchoring strengthVSAvoidcell differentiation capability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The device incorporates dynamic mechanical properties through its porous structure and material composition, allowing different regions to exhibit varying degrees of flexibility and deformability. The intermediate portion specifically is designed to be more compliant than the bone-anchoring portion, creating a mechanical gradient that dynamically responds to cellular mechanical sensing and guides differentiation along the tendon-fibrocartilage-bone pathway.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The use of porous materials with controlled pore sizes and distributions allows the device to achieve both structural strength for anchoring and mechanical compliance for cell differentiation. The porous structure provides load-bearing capacity while simultaneously allowing cellular infiltration and providing the necessary deformability gradient through variations in porosity across different device portions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

3Ease of operation

If the scaffold porosity is increased to allow cell infiltration, then cell migration is improved, but the mechanical strength of the device decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell migrationVSAvoidmechanical strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Porosity is locally optimized in different portions of the device: the first scaffold portion has higher porosity to facilitate cell infiltration and migration for tendon regeneration, while the second scaffold portion has lower porosity to provide mechanical strength for bone anchoring. The intermediate portion has transitional porosity to support fibrocartilage formation, thereby achieving both cell migration and mechanical strength through spatially differentiated design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The device employs composite material strategies combining materials with different mechanical properties and porosity characteristics. By compositeing materials that provide both high porosity for cell infiltration and sufficient mechanical strength, the device achieves the dual requirement of facilitating cell migration while maintaining structural integrity for anchoring to bone tissue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS20230320839A1Device for interfacing filamentous or fibrous structures with a real or simulated biological tissue

Publication Date: 2023.10.12 ALMA MATER STUDIORUM UNIV DI BOLOGNA

AI summary

A device for interfacing at least one filamentous structure, with real or simulated biological tissue and a system for regeneration, repair, replacement, or simulation of tendon and/or ligamentous tissue. The device comprises one or more bodies for anchoring a filamentous structure. The one or more bodies may include at least one capstan for wrapping the filamentous structure, and at least one porous portion having a trabecular structure. The system comprises the device and at least one filamentous structure having a plurality of nanofiber assemblies that are obtained by electrospinning. The plurality of assemblies may be arranged to form a single bundle, with the bundle being wrapped to the capstan.