Multi-lumen GI Stent Isolates Drainage from Nutritional Flow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for draining gastrointestinal abscesses, such as passive and active drainage systems, are not always effective in promoting healing, particularly in cases where abscesses form along staple lines post-bariatric surgery, as they may not adequately manage the drainage of nutritional contents and can require external vacuum sources.

Innovation Solution

A gastrointestinal assembly comprising an outer stent and an inner stent, where the inner stent has a non-cylindrical profile and a flared upper portion to seal off drainage pathways from nutritional contents, allowing for effective drainage of abscesses without external vacuum, and a drainage catheter that extends through the stent to facilitate abscess drainage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If passive drainage is used to drain the abscess, then the drainage function is provided, but the drainage is not always effective in promoting healing and nutritional contents may contaminate the drainage pathway

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrainage effectivenessVSAvoidnutritional content contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The stent is divided into multiple segments including a first portion, second portion, and third portion, creating distinct functional zones. The first portion defines a first lumen for nutritional content passage, while the second and third portions create a second lumen for drainage, effectively segmenting the flow paths to prevent contamination while maintaining reliable drainage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The drainage catheter is nested within the stent structure, specifically positioned within the second lumen created by the stent's configuration. The catheter is received within the third portion of the stent, creating a nested arrangement that protects the drainage pathway from nutritional content while ensuring effective abscess drainage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If active drainage with external vacuum source is used, then drainage effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity and requirement for external equipment increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrainage effectivenessVSAvoidexternal vacuum source requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stent is designed to provide passive drainage functionality through its own structural configuration without requiring external vacuum sources. The asymmetric cross-sectional shape and multi-lumen design create natural pressure gradients that facilitate drainage, allowing the device to serve itself and eliminate the need for complex external equipment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the drainage function from the complex active vacuum system and implements it through the stent's inherent passive structural design. By removing the requirement for external vacuum sources and implementing drainage through the stent's geometry alone, the solution simplifies the overall system while maintaining effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Device complexity

If a single lumen stent is used, then the device simplicity is maintained, but the ability to separate nutritional contents from drainage pathway is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestent structure simplicityVSAvoidnutritional content mixing with drainage

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The stent is segmented into multiple lumens within its structure. The first lumen is dedicated to nutritional content passage while the second lumen is dedicated to drainage, creating physical separation that prevents mixing. This segmentation is achieved through the stent's asymmetric cross-sectional design with distinct wall configurations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of manufacture

If the stent has a symmetric cross-sectional profile, then manufacturing is simplified, but the ability to create asymmetric drainage pathways and seal against the GI tract is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestent fabricationVSAvoiddrainage pathway isolation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The stent employs an asymmetric cross-sectional profile with a first width and a second width that differ from each other. This asymmetry creates distinct first and second lumens with different characteristics, enabling effective separation of nutritional content and drainage pathways while providing optimal sealing surfaces against the gastrointestinal tract wall

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentUS10470910B2Multiple stent system for GI tract drainage

Publication Date: 2019.11.12 BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED INC

AI summary

A gastrointestinal assembly may be deployed within a patient's gastrointestinal tract in order to facilitate drainage of an abscess. The gastrointestinal assembly may include an outer stent and an inner stent disposed within the outer stent. The inner stent divides a volume within the outer stent into a primary passageway through which nutritional contents may pass and a secondary passageway protected from nutritional contents and configured to accommodate a passive drainage system for draining the abscess.