UHMWPE Composite Thread for Implantable Medical Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 3D printing technologies face challenges in producing biocompatible implantable materials that can be infused with pharmaceutical or medical substances and radiopacifying agents, especially for medical devices requiring specific mechanical properties and heterogeneous shapes, which are difficult to achieve with existing plastic materials like PEEK and UHMWPE.
Innovation Solution
A biocompatible and implantable material comprising a mixture of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) with lower molecular weight polyethylene, allowing for the incorporation of antibiotics, radiopacifying agents, and other additives, which can be extruded and molded at lower temperatures to maintain their effectiveness, enabling the creation of customized medical devices through 3D printing or injection molding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional plastic materials like PEEK and UHMWPE are used for 3D printing medical devices, then mechanical properties are maintained, but the ability to incorporate pharmaceutical substances and radiopacifying agents is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite material system consisting of UHMWPE as the base polymer combined with radiopacifying agents (such as barium sulfate or tungsten powder) and pharmaceutical substances (such as antibiotics). This composite approach allows simultaneous achievement of mechanical strength, radiographic visibility, and therapeutic functionality in a single material formulation suitable for 3D printing.
2Strength
If high molecular weight polyethylene is used to ensure mechanical strength, then device reliability is improved, but the material becomes difficult to extrude and process through 3D printing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the molecular weight parameters of the polyethylene by using a distribution of chain lengths rather than uniform high molecular weight. This parameter change allows the material to maintain adequate mechanical strength while achieving sufficient flow and extrudability for 3D printing processes, as the lower molecular weight fractions facilitate processing while higher fractions contribute to strength.
3Adaptability or versatility
If pharmaceutical substances are incorporated into the material, then therapeutic functionality is enhanced, but the material becomes more complex to process and manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functionalities into a single homogeneous material formulation: the base UHMWPE provides mechanical strength, radiopacifying agents enable imaging visibility, and pharmaceutical substances provide therapeutic action. This consolidation into one composite material simplifies the manufacturing process compared to creating separate components that would need to be assembled, reducing overall device complexity despite the enhanced functionality.
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 material allows for the production of medical devices with enhanced mechanical properties and the ability to incorporate therapeutic agents, reducing the need for further processing and ensuring the integrity of pharmaceutical substances, while providing radiographic visibility and customizable shapes and sizes for surgical applications.
Implementation Method 1
The material is heated to a temperature suitable for melting or softening the material
Implementation Method 2
The heated material is then extruded through a nozzle
Data Source
AI summary
Method for the obtainment of a thread made of a material biocompatible and implantable in the human body: a thread for the obtainment of a device implantable in the human body.