Innovative Cures and Solutions for

Osteoarthritis and Synovial Fluid

depreciation
Alyssa Kate Maxwell and Shree Joshi
 Introduction

Over 46 million American citizens encounter joint pain in their daily lives. Obesity, a rapidly spreading
lifestyle disease, has impacted the rate of joint pain, and causes friction in the weight-bearing areas, such as the
knees. Osteoarthritis, another illness induced by lifestyle and genetics, is causing synovial fluid depreciation, and
as a result creates an inflamed area due to friction. Synovial fluid is the free flowing liquid that reduces friction
between the joints and allows for a full range of motion. Without such synovial fluid, the bones would rub against
one another and begin to disintegrate. Our project, Innovative Cures and Solutions for Osteoarthritis and
Synovial Fluid Depreciation, was created with the hope of eliminating knee replacements as a whole.
As we continued to research, we developed an idea that involved a single incision remedy. This product
would be a synovial fluid capsule made of a silicon disk that is inserted between the joints and would reduce
tension, pressure, and friction, therefore, helping patients suffering from synovial fluid depreciation. As this idea
was developed, another was formed, an orally ingested nanobot pill. This device would be a daily oral pill that
would dissolve in the stomach, releasing a miniature robot that fills the cavities in the bones, including the joints
lacking synovial fluid, with a spackle-like material.
Research Question
Population Previous Solutions
Will the addition of a foreign object between the
joints eliminate knee pain in osteoarthritis
patients?
Hypothesis

Having an organic material surgically

placed in the joints will allow for patients
09.05.XX 09.17.XX 10.20.XX 11.01.XX
with obesity and osteoarthritis to continue
with a normal lifestyle and full range of
motion with decreased pain.
 A step- by- step procedure is listed below for the Synovial Fluid Capsule:

Step 1: Research the function of a joint, and the impact of osteoarthritis

Step 2: Investigate current solutions for obesity and arthritis induced joint
pain and immobility

Procedure
Step 3: Sketch out prototype accompanied with dimensions and materials
Step 4: Develop prototype with correct dimensions
Prototype development
Step 1- Create a mold 2-3” in diameter
Step 2- Fill mold with silicone material
Step 3- Let sit overnight
Step 4- Remove prototype and continue with testing
Step 5: Create a testing model with building blocks, with a more stable
‘bone’ on the top
Step 6: Add increments of ten pounds to the knee model WITHOUT the
prototype
Step 7: Repeat step 6 until collapse of the model
Step 8: Repeat step 6 with the addition of the prototype between the
‘bones’
Implementation
 Results and Data

Figure 3- Model Figure 4- Model without Synovial Figure 5- Model with

with out Synovial Fluid Capsule: 30lbs added. Model Synovial Fluid Capsule:
Fluid Capsule: collapsed moments after. 40lbs added.
20lbs added.
Figure 1- building Figure 2- Model with
block model used to out Synovial Fluid
test Synovial Fluid Capsule: 10lbs added
Capsule. ‘Bone”
placed on top is built
with a more stable
method to resemble
the femur
Conclusion

Once testing and data collection was complete, it was understood that the Synovial Fluid
Capsule made a significant 10 pound difference on the model. While developing the
prototype, multiple sources of error were discovered. Our first concern was the security
of a silicone gel implant. In 2001 the FDA found that silicone breast implants were
leaking and increasing the chances of immune system cancer. If the Synovial Fluid
Capsule experiences similar defaults, problems may occur and lead the patient to harm
and/or death. Another difficulty for this project was the inability to properly test the
subject and to develop the Orally Ingested Nanobot Pill. Had my partner and I begun the
brainstorming period sooner, possibly a more sophisticated and realistic model could
have been created to test the capsule. Moving forward, we hope to collect more data, test
using several methods, and reach out to scientists or doctors who work in this field.
 Emmanuelle, R., Pascale, D., Christophe, H., Bertrand, E., Bruno, P.,
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of Inflammation, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/9365745

GARG, P., & GOYAL, V. (2018). Role of Synovial Fluid Examination in

Diagnosis of Joint Diseases. Journal of Clinical & Diagnostic Research,
12(7), 6–9. https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2018/31333.11790
max growth

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