Prostatic Stent Helical Anchoring Urethral Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing prostatic stents cause damage to the urethra due to sharp anchoring means and require multiple lengths to fit different prostate sizes, leading to complications during insertion and potential incontinence.

Innovation Solution

A prostatic stent with a smooth, helical anchoring profile and adjustable length, featuring a tubular member made of silicone with a closed distal end and flexible Malecot structures to prevent damage and ensure secure anchoring without irritation, allowing for a single length to accommodate most prostate sizes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If sharp anchoring means are used to secure the stent in the urethra, then anchoring strength is improved, but urethral damage occurs during insertion or withdrawal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanchoring strengthVSAvoidurethral damage

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces sharp anchoring means with a smooth, continuous, curved anchoring profile that follows the natural anatomy of the urethra. The curved profile distributes anchoring forces along a broader area, eliminating concentrated stress points that cause mucous membrane tearing while maintaining sufficient anchoring strength to prevent stent migration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The stent employs a flexible tubular structure with a smooth anchoring profile that can conform to the urethral lumen. This flexible design allows the stent to be inserted and removed without rigid sharp edges, reducing mechanical trauma to the urethral tissue while maintaining structural integrity for effective anchoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple stent lengths are used to fit different prostate sizes, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity and measurement requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to prostate sizesVSAvoidnumber of stent sizes

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs a universal stent with optimized dimensions and a flexible structure that can accommodate a wide range of prostate sizes within a single device configuration. The stent's length, diameter, and anchoring profile are engineered to provide effective treatment across different prostate volumes, eliminating the need for multiple specialized sizes and simplifying the selection process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The stent incorporates dynamic flexibility allowing it to adapt its shape and conform to different urethral anatomies. This dynamic characteristic enables a single stent design to effectively treat various prostate sizes by conforming to the specific geometry of each patient's urethra, rather than requiring rigid size-specific designs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2023995B1Prostatic stent

Publication Date: 2016.02.17 DEVONEC MARIAN

Figure 1a~5
Figure 6~8b

AI summary

The invention concerns a prostatic stent comprising a flexible tubular member (1 ) having a lateral wall (2) equipped with anchoring means, adapted for anchoring the prostatic stent into the urethra, characterized in that said anchoring means comprise a succession of hollow and projecting elements (7, 8) defining a continuous and smooth anchoring profile, thereby forming an anchor for the prostatic stent in place into the urethra, and adapted to avoid any lesion of the urethra during insertion or withdrawal of the stent.