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

I-Corps：用于骨科手术的 OrthoMechanica 植入式被动机构

• 批准号: 1546680
• 负责人: Ravi Balasubramanian
• 金额: $ 5万
• 依托单位: Oregon State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2015-07-15 至 2016-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1546680&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Corps; OrthoMechanica; Implantable; Passive; Mechanisms

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.

植入式被动机构从未被开发用于骨科手术。 该项目旨在通过探索新型植入式生物医学器械的商业市场，在重建骨科手术领域实现范式转变。 植入物是被动机制，采用肌腱网络，杠杆，滑轮和连杆的形式。 它们将通过手术放置在体内的肌肉和肌腱之间，目的是修改肌肉与肌腱和骨骼的功能连接。 具体而言，与目前使用缝线进行连接的做法相比，植入物将提供在肌肉和肌腱之间更好地缩放和分配力的能力。 这些植入物将为患者提供可定制的上级肌肉骨骼功能，从而改善长期生活质量。 由于这种植入物以前从未开发过，因此该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，从而促进国家的健康，繁荣和福利。 目前的工作集中在两类植入式被动机制作为范例植入物。第一类由“差动”机制组成，例如移动滑轮和杠杆，它们将一个肌肉的力和运动分布在多个肌腱上。第二类植入物由“力缩放”机制组成，该机制增加了从一块肌肉传递到肌腱的力。初步研究表明，这些植入物能够为患者提供定制的上级肌肉骨骼功能，从而改善长期生活质量。在I-Corps计划期间，团队的每个成员每周都将开展活动，探索拟议技术的商业化潜力。 具体而言，该团队将通过咨询来自不同背景的人，如开发骨科植入物的公司，监管机构和医疗保健中心，汇集有关外科领域对此类植入物技术需求的想法。