Self-Cleaning Stent With Movable Weighted Object
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Solution Overview
Problem
Biliary stents often become occluded due to biofilm and sludge deposition, leading to restricted bile flow and requiring frequent replacement, which poses medical risks and financial burdens.
Innovation Solution
A self-cleaning stent design featuring a weighted object movably disposed within the tubular body, configured to dislodge cumulative matter using patient movement, fluid flow, or gravitational changes, with a securing mechanism to maintain the object's position and facilitate flow path maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a biliary stent is implanted to maintain bile duct patency, then bile flow is maintained through the stent lumen, but cumulative matter (biofilm, sludge, bacteria) accumulates on the stent surface over time, leading to lumen occlusion and requiring frequent replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The stent incorporates a self-cleaning mechanism where a movable weighted object (ball or sphere) automatically dislodges cumulative matter from the stent lumen surface through patient movement, fluid flow, or gravitational changes. This self-service approach eliminates the need for external intervention to prevent occlusion, allowing the stent to maintain patency throughout its residence time without requiring replacement due to biofilm or sludge accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The stent transitions from a static structure to a dynamic system by incorporating a movable weighted object that can move along the stent lumen. This dynamic element responds to patient movement, fluid flow, or gravitational changes to actively dislodge cumulative matter, transforming the stent from a passive implant that accumulates debris to an active system that continuously self-cleans and maintains patency.
2Reliability
If frequent stent replacement is performed to treat occlusion, then bile flow obstruction is relieved, but medical risks and financial burden increase for the patient
Solution Approach 1:
By incorporating the self-cleaning weighted object mechanism, the stent autonomously prevents occlusion through continuous self-cleaning action. This eliminates the need for repeated surgical interventions to replace occluded stents, thereby reducing medical risks associated with multiple procedures and decreasing the financial burden of frequent replacements on patients.
3Reliability
If a weighted object is added to the stent for self-cleaning functionality, then cumulative matter dislodgement is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stent incorporates a movable weighted object (ball or sphere) that moves along the stent lumen in response to patient movement, fluid flow, or gravitational changes. This dynamic element provides self-cleaning functionality by automatically dislodging cumulative matter from the lumen surface, transforming the stent from a static structure to an active self-cleaning system without requiring complex mechanical actuation mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The weighted object serves as a self-service cleaning mechanism that automatically removes cumulative matter without external intervention. The simplicity of using gravity and fluid dynamics to move the weighted object along the stent keeps the device structure relatively simple while achieving reliable self-cleaning functionality throughout the stent's residence time.
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 self-cleaning stent effectively inhibits long-term adherence of cumulative matter, extending the stent's residence time within the patient and reducing the need for frequent replacements, thereby minimizing medical risks and financial strain.
Implementation Method 1
the weighted object is configured to dislodge cumulative matter disposed within the elongated tubular body in response to a force selected from the group consisting of patient movement, fluid flow, and changes in the gravitational force
Data Source
AI summary
A stent is provided that is able to resist clogging from cumulative matter found within a fluid that passes therethrough. The stent includes a mass moveably disposed therein, wherein movement of the stent tends to dislodge any cumulative matter accumulated within the stent. As a result, the device is able to remain resident within the patient for an extended period of time before becoming clogged and needing to be replaced.