Flexible Intestinal Anastomosis Stent Secretion Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gastrointestinal anastomosis staplers are not biodegradable, lack mechanical matching with intestinal tissue, and fail to regulate tissue repair effectively, leading to complications such as anastomotic fistula and stenosis.
Innovation Solution
A flexible intestinal anastomosis stent made of a bio-flexible elastomer based on PTMC-b-PEG-b-PTMC copolymer blended with PLA, PCL, or PBS, featuring horn-shaped through holes and a concave polygonal structure to manage secretions and reduce the risk of infection, with a 3D reticulated micro-nano structure matching intestinal elasticity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional metal staplers are used for anastomosis, then the anastomosis procedure is simple and reliable, but the staplers are not biodegradable and cause permanent foreign body retention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from non-biodegradable metal to biodegradable polymer, transforming the stent's duration characteristic from permanent to temporary (degrading within 28-56 days), thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and retention time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite polymer materials (PBS/PLA/PCL) with specific mechanical properties to achieve both the reliability needed for anastomosis and the biodegradability for temporary support, combining strength with controlled degradation
2Duration of action of stationary object
If rigid degradable staplers are used, then the staplers are biodegradable, but they lack mechanical matching with soft intestinal tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible polymer stent that can deform and adapt to the soft intestinal tissue, providing mechanical matching through material flexibility rather than rigid structural support
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adjusts the mechanical parameters of the polymer material (elastic modulus, flexibility) to match the soft tissue characteristics of the intestine, enabling the stent to conform to tissue movement and peristalsis
3Ease of operation
If conventional staplers are used, then the anastomosis procedure is straightforward, but they lack regulation and control function of tissue repair
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates anti-reflux valves that provide feedback control on fluid direction, preventing backflow and regulating the intestinal environment to promote proper healing
Solution Approach 2:
The stent's horn-shaped channels and anti-reflux structures automatically regulate fluid flow and tissue environment without external control, enabling self-regulating tissue repair
4Ease of operation
If simple stent structures are used, then the operation is easy, but they cannot effectively manage secretions and prevent infection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the stent wall into multiple horn-shaped channels that separate and direct different fluid flows, managing secretions effectively while maintaining a simple overall structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds three-dimensional horn-shaped channels with specific spatial orientation to the stent structure, creating directional fluid management in multiple dimensions while keeping the implantation process simple
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 stent effectively reduces the risk of anastomotic fistula and other complications by managing secretions and promoting healing with minimal damage to the intestinal wall, while being biodegradable and easy to operate.
Implementation Method 1
A flexible intestinal anastomosis stent made of a bio-flexible elastomer based on PTMC-b-PEG-b-PTMC copolymer
Implementation Method 2
the side wall of the stent body being provided with a plurality of special-shaped through holes, the through holes being horn-shaped, a large opening of the horn-shaped through holes being a liquid inlet hole on an outer side of the stent body, and a small opening thereof being a liquid outlet hole on an inner side of the stent body
Implementation Method 3
The stent body is made of a bio-flexible elastomer based on PTMC-b-PEG-b-PTMC copolymer blended with at least one of PLA, PCL and PBS
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible intestinal anastomosis stent which sucks secretions on an inner wall of an intestinal tract and at a suture site into a horn-shaped channel through a through-hole. The secretion is discharged to an inside of the stent body through a liquid-inlet hole after being squeezed by intestinal tract contents, thereby reducing a risk of infection at the suture site. A lower edge of the outlet end of the stent body has a concave polygonal structure, each reflex angle at a lower edge of the concave polygonal structure being formed with one inwardly folded wrinkle structure on a side wall of the stent body, and the wrinkle structure also able to accommodate the secretions. The lower edge is stressed and deformed by the intestinal tract contents to reduce a reflex angle, so that secretions in the wrinkle structure are discharged downwardly, such that risk of complications is reduced.