IISc team, surgeon develop dissolving stent for abdomen surgeries

Bengaluru: A small, dissolving tube developed in a Bengaluru lab is moving a step closer to hospital use, offering a way to avoid repeat procedures after major abdominal surgeries.The device, called the "Asthana Stent", is the result of a collaboration between liver transplant surgeon Sonal Asthana of Aster CMI Hospital and researchers led by Kaushik Chatterjee at IISc, spanning its departments of materials engineering and bioengineering. It has now been licensed to Advanced Medtech Solutions Private Limited under an Indian Patent, marking a shift from laboratory prototype to a product that could reach operating rooms.The idea began with a recurring problem seen after liver transplants. Surgeons must join bile ducts, a delicate connection that can later leak or narrow. These complications affect 11% to 40% of patients and often require another procedure to fix.Existing solutions rely on plastic tubes, or stents, to keep the duct open while it heals. But these either protrude outside the body and need careful management, or stay inside and have to be removed later through an additional procedure."The new stent takes a different approach. It is made from polydioxanone (PDS), a biodegradable polymer used in dissolvable surgical stitches. Once placed inside the body, it holds the duct open for about six weeks, then gradually breaks down and is absorbed. No removal is needed," the research team said.Turning the idea into a working device required engineering work by Thaseeb Rehman of IISc's department of materials engineering and Saswat Choudhury of department of bioengineering. The team designed the tube to stay open under pressure and resist migration. The design used surface ridges and velcro-like hooks, while a flexible mid-section allowed placement even when duct openings were misaligned. Tiny radiopaque markers allowed doctors to track it using X-rays."Tests showed the stent could withstand more than 16 Newtons of pressure, well above what bile ducts experience. It also held its structure over six weeks in both lab conditions and human bile, covering the critical healing window," the researchers said.With the technology now licensed, the focus shifts to manufacturing and approvals. The firm will take it through regulatory checks mandated by Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). The device has also received support from Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).If approved, the stent would be used during surgery itself, and will be available in multiple sizes. For patients, the benefit is straightforward: one operation instead of two, and fewer chances of complications after going home.-----FOR GRAPHICWhy It Matters■ 11%–40% of liver transplant patients develop bile duct leaks or narrowing, often needing another procedure■ Plastic stents or external tubes work, but must be removed later, adding costs and risks■ Biodegradable stent holds the duct open for 6 weeks, then dissolves■ Patent given to Advanced Medtech Solutions; now moving through regulatory approvals■ Device can reduce repeat procedures, complications, and hospital costs for several abdominal surgeries
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