Design methodology for tissue engineering scaffolds and biomaterial implants
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of designing an implantable member for a patient comprising:
- determining a functional characteristic of a tissue of the patient;
determining a constraint on the functional characteristic of the tissue;
creating a first set of databases representing a plurality of microstructure designs for said member in image-based format;
for each of the plurality of microstructure designs, calculating a functional characteristic of a resultant member incorporating the microstructure designs;
selecting a desired microstructure design for the member, said selecting step including;
selecting the desired microstructure design which yields the resultant member most closely matching the functional characteristic of the tissue while satisfying the constraint on the functional characteristic of the tissue;
creating a second database representing a desired three dimensional shape of the member in image-based format; and
merging the databases representing the desired microstructure design with the second database to form an image-based design of the member.
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Abstract
A design methodology is provided for creating biomaterial scaffolds optimized for in vivo function with any 3D anatomic shape. The method creates all designs using voxel based design techniques. It also provides for optimization of implant and scaffold microstructure to best match functional and biofactor delivery (including cells, genes and proteins) requirements. The voxel based design techniques readily allow combination of any scaffold or implant microstructure database with any complex 3D anatomic shape created by CT or MRI scanners. These designs can be readily converted to formats for layered manufacturing or casting.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. A method of designing an implantable member for a patient comprising:
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determining a functional characteristic of a tissue of the patient; determining a constraint on the functional characteristic of the tissue; creating a first set of databases representing a plurality of microstructure designs for said member in image-based format; for each of the plurality of microstructure designs, calculating a functional characteristic of a resultant member incorporating the microstructure designs; selecting a desired microstructure design for the member, said selecting step including; selecting the desired microstructure design which yields the resultant member most closely matching the functional characteristic of the tissue while satisfying the constraint on the functional characteristic of the tissue; creating a second database representing a desired three dimensional shape of the member in image-based format; and merging the databases representing the desired microstructure design with the second database to form an image-based design of the member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of designing a tissue scaffold for replacing native tissue in a patient comprising:
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determining a native tissue effective stiffness; determining a native tissue regeneration requirement; creating a first set of databases representing a plurality of microstructure designs for said scaffold in image based format; for each of the plurality of microstructure designs, calculating a scaffold effective stiffness of a resultant scaffold incorporating the microstructure design and a regenerate tissue effective stiffness of regenerate tissue that will grow into the scaffold incorporating the microstructure design; selecting a desired microstructure design for the scaffold, said selecting step including; selecting the microstructure design which yields the resultant scaffold most closely matching scaffold effective stiffness and regenerate tissue effective stiffness with native tissue effective stiffness while satisfying the native tissue regeneration requirement; creating a second database representing a scaffold exterior geometry desired to replace the native tissue in the patient in image based format; and merging the databases representing the desired microstructure design with the second database into an image-based design of the scaffold. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of designing a tissue scaffold for replacing native tissue in a patient comprising:
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determining a desired scaffold vascularization; determining a scaffold stiffness requirement; creating a first set of databases representing a plurality of microstructure designs for the scaffold in image-based format; for each of the plurality of microstructure designs, calculating a scaffold vascularization of a resultant scaffold incorporating the microstructure design; selecting a desired microstructure design for the scaffold, said selecting step including; selecting the microstructure design which yields the scaffold vascularization most closely matching the desired scaffold vascularization while satisfying the scaffold stiffness requirement; creating a second database representing a site to be replaced with the scaffold in imaged-based format; and merging the databases representing the desired microstructure design with the second database to yield an image-based design of the scaffold. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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33. A method of designing a drug/gene delivery scaffold for implanting in a patient comprising:
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determining a desired functional characteristic of the drug/gene delivery scaffold; determining a constraint on the functional characteristic of the drug/gene delivery scaffold; determining a functional characteristic of a tissue to be implanted with the drug/gene delivery scaffold; creating a first set of databases representing a plurality of microstructure designs for the drug/gene delivery scaffold in image-based format; for each of the plurality of microstructure designs, calculating a drug/gene delivery profile of a resultant scaffold incorporating the microstructure design; selecting a desired microstructure design for the drug/gene delivery scaffold, said selecting step including; selecting the microstructure design that yields the resultant scaffold with the drug/gene delivery profile most closely matching the desired dosage level desired for tissue regeneration or tumor destruction, and the functional characteristic of the tissue to be implanted with the scaffold while satisfying the constraint on the functional characteristic; creating a second database representing a desired geometry for the drug/gene delivery scaffold in imaged-based format; and merging the databases representing the desired microstructure design with the second database to yield an image-based design of the scaffold. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A method of generating a scaffold design comprising:
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creating a first database representing a desired scaffold design in image-based format; obtaining a second database representing a three dimensional area to be implanted with the scaffold in image-based format; and merging the first database with the second database to yield the scaffold design. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46)
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47. A method of generating a scaffold design comprising:
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creating a first database representing a desired scaffold design in image-based format; obtaining a second database representing a three dimensional area to be implanted with the scaffold in image-based format; and merging the first database with the second database to yield the scaffold design; wherein said first and second databases are created in an image-based format;
said second database is generated by an image scanning technique; andsaid merging step further comprises a Boolean operation.
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Specification