Multi-Loop Ureteral Stent Retention for Reduced Tissue Irritation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ureteral stents cause patient discomfort due to retention features that can lead to hemorrhage, continual urge to urinate, and trigone irritation.
Innovation Solution
A ureteral stent with a tubular member and retaining ends featuring a plurality of loops or sections with openings, designed to minimize tissue contact and irritation by adopting a flexible configuration that reduces the number of contact areas and forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If retention features are added to the stent ends to prevent migration, then the stent stability is improved, but patient discomfort and tissue irritation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The stent ends are constructed with flexible, thin-walled structures that can conform to the natural contours of the urinary tract. This flexibility allows the retention features to gently engage with tissue without causing irritation, hemorrhage, or trigone irritation, while still providing adequate anchoring to prevent migration.
Solution Approach 2:
The design modifies physical parameters of the retention features, such as reducing their stiffness, changing their surface characteristics, or adjusting their dimensional proportions. These parameter changes enable the retention features to provide stable anchoring while minimizing harmful effects on surrounding tissue.
2Reliability
If retention features are designed to securely anchor the stent, then migration prevention is improved, but patient comfort deteriorates due to continual urge to urinate and hemorrhage
Solution Approach 1:
The stent design applies different properties to different regions: the central tubular portion maintains sufficient rigidity for structural support and urine flow, while the end portions incorporating retention features use softer, more compliant materials. This local differentiation allows reliable anchoring at the ends without causing patient discomfort or hemorrhage.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention features are designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing them to adapt their engagement with tissue based on physiological conditions. They can flex and move with urinary flow and bladder contractions, providing secure anchoring when needed while minimizing irritation and discomfort during normal urinary function.
Data Source
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AI summary
A ureteral stent (100) that includes a tubular member (102) and a retaining end (104, 106) adapted to be placed inside a kidney (12) or a bladder (14) of a patient. The retaining end includes a plurality of loops (112, 116, 120, 124). Each of the loops are centered about a loop axis, and two or more of the loop axes extend in different directions relative to other loop axes.