Ureteral Stent Anchoring and Drainage via Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ureteral stents often face issues with urine drainage due to extrinsic compression or blockage from encrustation, and there is a risk of stent migration from the original implantation site, leading to complications in maintaining patency and normal urinary flow.
Innovation Solution
A stent design featuring a coiled wire structure with closely spaced coils allowing urine flow, and anchoring members with shape memory materials and support struts to prevent migration, along with a concave wall configuration for enhanced drainage and biocompatibility, minimizing the impact of encrustation and maintaining lumen patency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional ureteral stent is used, then the stent can be inserted into the ureter, but urine drainage is compromised due to extrinsic compression or blockage from encrustation
Solution Approach 1:
The stent is divided into multiple sections including an elongated portion with closely spaced coils and anchoring members at each end. This segmentation allows urine to flow through multiple pathways between the coils while the anchoring members prevent migration, thereby maintaining drainage reliability despite encrustation on any single section
Solution Approach 2:
The stent utilizes a coiled structure with spaces between adjacent coils that allows fluid penetration. This porous-like configuration enables urine to pass through the stent walls via the inter-coil spaces, ensuring continuous drainage even when encrustation partially blocks the central lumen
2Reliability
If a traditional ureteral stent is used, then the stent can be inserted, but migration occurs from the original implantation site
Solution Approach 1:
The stent is divided into an elongated portion and separate anchoring members at each end. The anchoring members are specifically designed to engage with the ureteral wall at the kidney and bladder ends, preventing migration while the elongated portion maintains the ureteral patency
Solution Approach 2:
The anchoring members feature a curved configuration that allows them to engage with the ureteral wall. This curvature enables the anchoring members to lock into place within the ureteral lumen, preventing both upward migration into the kidney and downward migration into the bladder
3Ease of operation
If the stent needs to be resilient for insertion, then the stent can be straightened for insertion, but the retentive anchoring shape may not be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The stent utilizes shape memory materials that change their physical parameters (shape, rigidity) in response to temperature changes. During insertion, the stent is cooled or mechanically compressed to a straight, low-profile configuration. Once implanted in the body, body temperature triggers the material to return to its predetermined retentive anchoring shape
Solution Approach 2:
The stent is constructed from shape memory materials that combine the properties of flexibility for insertion with shape retention for anchoring. These composite materials allow the stent to be temporarily deformed for insertion while automatically returning to and maintaining its functional anchoring configuration once deployed
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 design ensures effective urine drainage and reduces the need for repeated procedures by minimizing encrustation effects and preventing stent migration, allowing for longer stent usage and reduced patient trauma.
Implementation Method 1
The plurality of support struts may be comprised of shape memory materials
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a stent for placing in a body passage of a patient. The stent has an elongated portion (12) having a proximal end (24) and a distal end (22). The elongated portion defines a lumen throughout the stent. The stent has a proximal anchoring member (24) on the proximal end of the elongated portion and a distal anchoring member (20) on the distal end of the elongated portion. The anchoring member comprises a wall curving outward from each end of the elongated portion of the stent, and a plurality of support struts (28) disposed longitudinally about a circumference of the wall of the distal anchoring member.