I-Corps: OrthoMechanica-Implantable Passive Mechanisms For Orthopedic Surgery

可植入的被动机制从未被开发用于骨科手术。该项目寻求通过探索新型植入型生物医学设备的商业市场，在重建整形外科领域创造一种范式转变。植入物是被动的机制，采取肌腱网络、杠杆、滑轮和连接的形式。它们将通过外科手术放置在人体内的肌肉和肌腱之间，目的是改变肌肉与肌腱和骨骼之间的功能性连接。具体地说，与目前使用缝合线制作附着物的做法相比，这种植入物将提供更好地缩放和在肌肉和肌腱之间分配力的能力。这些植入物将为患者提供可定制和优越的肌肉骨骼功能，从而从长远来看提高生活质量。由于这种植入物以前从未被开发出来，这个项目促进了科学的进步。如果这些植入物进入市场，这项工作可能会导致一个新的医疗器械行业的创建，从而促进国民健康、繁荣和福利。目前的工作主要集中在两类可植入的被动机制作为样本植入。第一类由“差异化”机制组成，例如移动滑轮和杠杆，它将一块肌肉的力量和运动分配到多个肌腱上。第二类植入物由增加从一块肌肉传递到肌腱的力的“力调节”机制组成。初步研究表明，这些植入物能够为患者提供可定制和优越的肌肉骨骼功能，从而从长远来看提高生活质量。在i-Corps计划期间，团队中的每个成员每周都将从事探索拟议技术的商业化潜力的活动。具体地说，该团队将通过咨询来自不同背景的人，如骨科植入物开发公司、监管机构和医疗保健中心，将关于外科领域对此类植入物技术的需求的想法汇集在一起。

Implantable passive mechanisms have never been developed for orthopedic surgery. This project seeks to create a paradigm shift in the domain of reconstructive orthopedic surgery through the exploration of the commercial market for a new class of implantable biomedical devices. The implants are passive mechanisms that take the form of tendon networks, levers, pulleys, and linkages. They will be surgically placed between muscles and tendons within the body with the goal of modifying the functional attachment of muscles to tendons and bone. Specifically, the implants will provide the ability to scale and distribute forces better between muscles and tendons when compared with the current practice of using sutures to make attachments. These implants will enable customizable and superior musculoskeletal function for the patient, thus improving quality of life in the long term. Since such implants have never been developed before, this project promotes the progress of science. If these implants make it to market, the work could lead to the creation of a new medical-device industry, thus advancing national health, prosperity and welfare. The work currently focuses on two classes of implantable passive mechanisms as exemplar implants. The first class consists of 'differential' mechanisms, such as moving pulleys and levers, which distribute forces and movements from one muscle across multiple tendons. The second class of implants consists of 'force-scaling' mechanisms that increase the force transferred from one muscle to a tendon. Preliminary studies show that these implants enable customizable and superior musculoskeletal function for the patient, thus improving quality of life in the long term. During the I-Corps program, each member of the team will pursue activities every week that explore the commercialization potential of the proposed technology. Specifically, the team will bring together ideas regarding the need for such implant technology in the surgical domain by consulting with people from different backgrounds, such as companies that develop orthopedic implants, regulatory bodies, and medical care centers.