Expandable Absorbent Stent for Gastrointestinal Wound Closure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatment options for gastrointestinal tract wounds and defects, such as esophageal perforations and pancreatic cysts, are invasive and require frequent surveillance, with limited efficacy and high morbidity and mortality risks.

Innovation Solution

A medical device comprising a stent with an absorbent body and flexible structure that transitions between compressed and expanded states, allowing deployment and expansion within the gastrointestinal tract to treat defects, and a vacuum mechanism for fluid absorption and wound closure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If surgical re-operation is performed to treat gastrointestinal tract wounds and defects, then treatment efficacy is improved, but patient morbidity and mortality rates increase and invasiveness increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment efficacyVSAvoidmorbidity and mortality rates
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The absorbent material undergoes a state change from compressed to expanded form after deployment, transforming its physical parameters to achieve wound closure without requiring invasive surgical intervention. This parameter change enables the device to provide effective treatment while avoiding the high morbidity and mortality associated with traditional surgery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the mechanical surgical intervention (knives, sutures, clamps) with a controlled expansion mechanism. The absorbent material expands from a compressed state to fill and seal the defect, substituting the need for direct mechanical surgical manipulation and thereby reducing surgical risks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If endoscopic stent placement is used to treat gastrointestinal tract wounds and defects, then invasiveness is reduced, but frequent surveillance is required and treatment efficacy is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveinvasivenessVSAvoidtreatment efficacy
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The absorbent material is nested within a stent structure in a compressed state during delivery. After deployment, the absorbent expands within the stent framework, combining the minimally invasive delivery of endoscopic stent placement with the enhanced wound closure capability of expandable absorbent materials, thereby improving efficacy without increasing invasiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The device transitions from a static compressed state during delivery to a dynamic expanded state at the treatment site. This dynamic transformation allows the device to adapt to the defect geometry and provide effective sealing, overcoming the limitation of fixed-structure stents while maintaining minimally invasive delivery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a stent is placed to treat gastrointestinal tract wounds and defects, then less invasive treatment is achieved, but frequent surveillance is required

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveinvasivenessVSAvoidfrequent surveillance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The expandable absorbent material provides self-sealing and self-sustaining wound closure functionality. Once expanded, the material maintains the seal and manages fluid at the defect site without requiring external intervention or frequent surveillance, enabling the device to serve itself and eliminate the need for repeated monitoring procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The device provides less invasive treatment with improved wound closure and fluid management, reducing the need for frequent surveillance and minimizing morbidity and mortality risks.

Implementation Method 1

an absorbent located at a distal portion of the tube, the absorbent being configured to transition from a compressed state to an expanded state

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

The at least one lumen may be configured to supply a vacuum to the distal end of the tube

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVacuum suction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP4153261B1Medical treatment device and related methods thereof
Publication Date: 2025.09.24 BOSTON SCI LTD
  • EP4153261B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4153261B1 patent drawingFigure 1B~2B

AI summary

A medical device, comprising a tube including at least one lumen, an absorbent located at a distal portion of the tube, the absorbent being configured to transition from a compressed state to an expanded state, and a structure fixed to the absorbent, wherein the structure is configured to flex into a compressed state and an expanded state simultaneously with the compressed state and the expanded state of the absorbent, and the structure exposes at least a portion of the absorbent.