Anti-Migration Stent With Flexible Tie Wall Anchoring
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stents face challenges with migration, particularly in applications like esophageal strictures, where they may move undesirably, compromising their effectiveness in maintaining luminal patency.
Innovation Solution
The stent design incorporates flexible ties and retention mechanisms, such as clips or flared regions, to anchor the stent within the body lumen, minimizing migration by securing it to the lumen walls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a stent is placed in a body lumen to provide support and maintain structure open, then structural support and luminal patency are improved, but the stent may migrate undesirably within the lumen
Solution Approach 1:
The stent is divided into multiple segments or sections, with flexible ties connecting adjacent segments. This segmentation allows the stent to adapt to lumen shape variations while the ties maintain segmental positioning, preventing migration without compromising overall structural support.
Solution Approach 2:
Flexible ties act as intermediary elements between the stent structure and the lumen wall. These ties provide a mechanical connection that anchors the stent in place, preventing migration while allowing the rigid stent framework to maintain luminal patency.
2Stability of the object's composition
If flexible ties are added to anchor the stent to prevent migration, then stent position stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible ties in the form of thin, pliable elements that can be easily integrated into the stent structure. These thin-film-like ties provide the necessary anchoring function without adding significant bulk or complexity to the overall device design.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible ties are integrated with the stent framework in a unified structure, where the ties emerge naturally from the stent segments rather than being separate attached components. This merging reduces assembly complexity and simplifies the overall device architecture.
3Reliability
If multiple flexible ties are used to secure the stent, then reliability of stent fixation is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible ties are pre-formed and pre-attached to the stent segments during the manufacturing process, rather than being attached separately during implantation. This preliminary action ensures reliable fixation while simplifying the overall manufacturing workflow by integrating tie attachment into the stent fabrication process.
Solution Approach 2:
The manufacturing process utilizes changes in material properties, such as temperature or phase transitions, to facilitate the attachment of flexible ties to stent segments. By changing parameters like heating the tie attachment points or using thermoplastic materials, reliable fixation is achieved through simplified thermal or chemical bonding processes.
Data Source
AI summary
An illustrative stent may comprise an elongated tubular member having a first end and a second end and an intermediate region disposed therebetween. The elongated tubular member may include at least one flexible tie affixed to an end thereof. The tie may allow the stent to be attached to a lumen wall with a clip, such as a retention clip, to inhibit migration of the stent within the body lumen.