Published Technical Disclosure Archive

Adaptive Knitted Medical Implants: Tissue Engineering Innovation

Publication ID: 24-11857022_0007_PTD
Published: October 27, 2025
Category:New Applications & Use Cases

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Adaptive Knitted Medical Implants: Tissue Engineering Innovation,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11857022_0007_PTD, Published October 27, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11857022_0007_PTD
This technical disclosure describes improvements that would be readily apparent to a Person Having Ordinary Skill In The Art (PHOSITA) when considered in combination with the foundational architecture disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 11,857,022.

Background and Problem Solved

Conventional medical devices and implants often lack the flexibility, comfort, and adaptability required for optimal patient outcomes. The original patent's knitted component technology, initially designed for footwear, can be adapted to address these limitations in the medical field. The new invention applies this technology to create personalized, tissue-mimicking structures that facilitate healing and tissue growth.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The new invention's novelty lies in its application of the original patent's knitted component technology to the medical field, enabling the creation of personalized, tissue-mimicking structures that address the limitations of conventional medical devices. The inventive step is the adaptation of the tensile strand technology to provide mechanical support and promote tissue healing in medical applications.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments of the invention could include variations in the knitted component's material, structure, and size to accommodate different medical applications. For example, the invention could be adapted for use in dental implants, orthopedic devices, or cardiovascular applications.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The invention has significant commercial potential in the medical device industry, with potential applications in customized implants, prosthetics, wound treatment systems, and surgical meshes. The target market includes medical device manufacturers, hospitals, and research institutions focused on regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.

CPC Classifications

SectionClassGroup
A A43 A43B1/04
A A43 A43B1/0063
A A43 A43B23/021
A A43 A43B23/025
A A43 A43B23/0215
A A43 A43B23/0235
A A43 A43B23/0245
A A43 A43B23/0265
A A43 A43B23/0275
A A43 A43B23/042
A A43 A43C1/04
D D04 D04B1/123
D D10 D10B2403/0213
D D10 D10B2403/02411
D D10 D10B2403/032
D D10 D10B2501/043

Field of Art

Textile engineering and biomechanical design, focusing on knitted structural components with specialized mechanical properties, particularly in footwear and medical device applications

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A professional with expertise in textile engineering, materials science, and biomechanical design, capable of understanding complex knitted structures, material properties, and cross-domain technology adaptation

Obviousness Rationale

A PHOSITA would recognize the fundamental knitted component technology from the source patent as directly transferable to medical applications, given the universal principles of tensile strand integration and unitary knit construction. The core technical innovation of creating structured, mechanically supportive textile components remains consistent across domains. The medical adaptations represent predictable variations that leverage the existing technological framework established in the footwear patent.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element
Unitary knit construction with base portion coextensive with sole structure
PTD Variation
Adapting unitary knit construction to create medical implant scaffolds
Obviousness Reasoning
Known technique of translating structural textile principles across domains, with predictable results in creating supportive medical devices
Source Patent Element
Integrally knit contoured portions with overlapping layers
PTD Variation
Customizing knitted component to match individual anatomical requirements
Obviousness Reasoning
Predictable design modification using established knitting technology to create patient-specific medical solutions
Source Patent Element
Spacer strands connecting overlapping layers
PTD Variation
Using tensile strand technology to promote tissue growth and mechanical support
Obviousness Reasoning
Applying known structural textile principles to biomechanical engineering with expected and reproducible outcomes
Source Patent Element
Knitted component with monofilament material
PTD Variation
Creating porous scaffolds for cell growth in medical applications
Obviousness Reasoning
Logical extension of material properties from footwear to tissue engineering, representing a finite set of predictable adaptations
35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on US Patent 11857022's disclosure of knitted structural components with tensile strand integration, the present publication demonstrates that a person having ordinary skill in the art would find the medical device adaptations obvious and lacking inventive step. The systematic translation of knitted textile technology across technical domains represents a predictable variation within the established technological framework, thereby rendering potential claims obvious under 35 U.S.C. Section 103.

Original Patent Information

Patent NumberUS 11,857,022
TitleArticle of footwear incorporating a knitted component with tensile strand
Assignee(s)NIKE, Inc.