Segmented Ureteral Stent Resolving Insertion Comfort Trade-off

Solution Overview

Problem

Ureteral stents face a challenge in balancing patient comfort and functionality, as harder stents are easier to position but cause discomfort, while softer stents are more comfortable but difficult to insert and prone to deformation.

Innovation Solution

A ureteral stent design featuring an elongate member with a rigid first portion for the kidney and a flexible, wicking second portion for fluid delivery to the bladder or ureter, utilizing capillary action and a multi-stranded yarn with wicking properties to enhance comfort and functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a hard stent is used, then the stent is easier to position within the urinary tract and more resistant to deformation, but the patient experiences greater discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of insertionVSAvoidpatient discomfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The stent is divided into multiple segments with different material properties: a proximal segment made of rigid material for easy insertion and positioning in the kidney, and a distal segment made of flexible material for comfort in the bladder. This segmentation allows each portion to optimize its function independently, resolving the contradiction between ease of insertion and patient comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the stent are assigned different material qualities (rigid vs. flexible) based on their specific functional requirements. The proximal portion requires rigidity for insertion, while the distal portion requires flexibility for comfort, allowing the stent to simultaneously satisfy both opposing requirements through localized property assignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a soft stent is used, then the patient experiences reduced discomfort, but the stent is more difficult to insert and more susceptible to deformation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient discomfortVSAvoidease of insertion

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The stent is divided into multiple segments with different material properties: a proximal segment made of rigid material for easy insertion and positioning in the kidney, and a distal segment made of flexible material for comfort in the bladder. This segmentation allows each portion to optimize its function independently, resolving the contradiction between ease of insertion and patient comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the stent are assigned different material qualities (rigid vs. flexible) based on their specific functional requirements. The proximal portion requires rigidity for insertion, while the distal portion requires flexibility for comfort, allowing the stent to simultaneously satisfy both opposing requirements through localized property assignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a flexible stent is used, then the stent is more comfortable for the patient, but the stent is more difficult to position and more prone to deformation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient discomfortVSAvoidstent deformation resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The stent is divided into multiple segments with different material properties: a proximal segment made of rigid material for easy insertion and positioning in the kidney, and a distal segment made of flexible material for comfort in the bladder. This segmentation allows each portion to optimize its function independently, resolving the contradiction between ease of insertion and patient comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the stent are assigned different material qualities (rigid vs. flexible) based on their specific functional requirements. The proximal portion requires rigidity for insertion, while the distal portion requires flexibility for comfort, allowing the stent to simultaneously satisfy both opposing requirements through localized property assignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 manages fluid drainage from the kidney to the bladder via capillary action, providing improved comfort and ease of insertion while maintaining positional stability and functionality.

Implementation Method 1

The second portion of the elongate member, which has a sidewall that defines a lumen, is configured to deliver fluid from a first location of the sidewall of the second portion to a second location of the sidewall of the second portion via capillary action

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Data Source

PatentUS9066823B2Ureteral stent

Publication Date: 2015.06.30 BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED INC

AI summary

In some embodiments, a ureteral stent includes an elongate member having a first portion and a second portion, which is coupled to the first portion. The first portion of the elongate member is configured to be disposed within a kidney of a patient. The second portion of the elongate member, which has a sidewall that defines a lumen, is configured to deliver fluid from a first location of the sidewall of the second portion to a second location of the sidewall of the second portion via capillary action. The second portion of the elongate member is configured to be disposed within at least one of a bladder and a ureter of the patient.