Telescoping Ureteral Stent with Segmented Anchoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current indwelling stents for maintaining patency between the kidney and bladder face challenges in effectively preventing urine flow blockages due to stenosis or strictures, and existing deployment methods are not optimized for secure positioning and easy retrieval.
Innovation Solution
A telescopically arranged indwelling stent system comprising a distal and proximal member with a lumen, where the distal member is biased into an arcuate configuration and the proximal member has an enlarged portion with malecot arms, allowing secure positioning and easy retrieval by adjusting the relative length and diameter for optimal fit within the ureter, and utilizing a delivery system with pushers and a lock for precise deployment and removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional single-component stent is used, then the structure is simple, but the ability to securely position and prevent blockages is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The stent is divided into two separate components: a distal member with a pigtail configuration for kidney positioning and a proximal member with malecot arms for bladder positioning. These discrete components can be independently optimized for their respective functions while working together to provide secure bilateral anchoring, resolving the contradiction between positioning security and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The distal member is nested within the proximal member in a telescoping arrangement, allowing both components to be delivered through a single catheter system. The distal end of the proximal member extends over the outer surface of the distal member, enabling compact delivery while maintaining the ability of both components to expand and function independently at their deployment sites.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the stent is deployed with fixed length and diameter, then manufacturing is simple, but adaptation to different ureter sizes and positions is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The stent incorporates dynamic, adjustable features including the telescoping arrangement that allows relative movement between the distal and proximal members, and the malecot arms that can be adjusted to different angles and positions. This enables the stent to adapt to varying ureter lengths, diameters, and anatomical configurations while maintaining secure positioning, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and manufacturing simplicity.
3Measurement precision
If a complex deployment system is used, then precise positioning is achieved, but the deployment process becomes difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery system merges the deployment of both stent components through a single integrated catheter system. The telescoping arrangement allows the distal and proximal members to be advanced together through the same access route, and the pusher system enables coordinated deployment of both components, simplifying the overall procedure while maintaining precise positioning capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The stent components are pre-assembled in a compact, nested configuration within the delivery catheter, with the distal member already positioned within the proximal member. This preliminary arrangement eliminates the need for separate insertion procedures and allows both components to be deployed in a single continuous action, reducing procedural complexity and time while ensuring precise final positioning.
Data Source
AI summary
An indwelling stent is provided. The stent includes a distal member that extends between a distal end portion and a proximal end portion and defines a lumen therethrough, and a proximal member that extends between a distal end portion and a proximal end portion and defines a lumen therethrough, wherein the distal member and the proximal member collectively define the stent, and wherein the distal and proximal members are discrete components and are telescopingly arranged with the distal end portion of the proximal member extending over an outer surface of the distal member.