Plastically Deformable, Mechanically Strong, and Degradable Polymeric Airway Stents
AssigneeRegents of the University of Minnesota
InventorsRobroy MacIver, Marc Hillmyer, Arpan Biswas, Daniel Krajovic
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Abstract
Embodiments relate to stents for supporting an airway or other duct or plenum. The stents can be rapidly customized and inserted into the airway, obviating the need for subsequent intubation or for invasive procedures. The stent can be made of plastic or ductile materials, such that an expander can be positioned therein to cause the stent to plastically deform to provide a large passageway.
Claims20
A stent comprising a plastic body extending along an axis and defining an initial aperture, the initial aperture also extending along the axis, the plastic body made of a plastically deformable block copolymer, the plastic body being capable of permanent deformation without fracture by the temporary application of radial force.
A method for sizing a stent in vivo, the method comprising:
- deploying a stent in an airway, the stent comprising a plastic body extending along an axis and defining an initial aperture, the initial aperture also extending along the axis, the plastic body made of a plastically deformable block copolymer;
- positioning an expander in the initial aperture;
- expanding the expander to apply a radially outward force against the plastic body, thereby causing plastic deformation of the stent such that the initial aperture becomes an expanded aperture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.