Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-10183442-B1
Publication Date
2019-01-22
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present disclosure relates generally to medical devices, including airway stents, and additive manufacturing (3D printing) processes for producing the same. Using certain materials and novel printing techniques, the present systems and methods can directly print nearly any size or shape medical device in a few hours. For example, in certain embodiments, the present systems and methods leverage fused deposition modeling (“FDM”) and polycarbonate urethane (“PCU”) to produce custom medical devices, including airway stents.
Core Innovation
The disclosed methods produce hollow polycarbonate urethane airway stents through layer-based extrusion of melted filament in successive discrete layers. They form the material using perimeter paths and rectilinear infill, specifying different starting points between layers to yield a seamless stent. Disclosed stent geometries include accordion, cutout, spiral, studded, and tapered designs with repeated surface protrusions, circumferential corrugations, and lateral projections.
The problem addressed by the invention is not explicitly described in patent because the background, summary, and abstract sections are not included. The claims define stents having a hollow interior, an exterior surface configured to fit compatibly against an airway, and a wall thickness of 0.75 mm to 0.85 mm. In addition, the claimed structures exhibit a radial stiffness of 8 to 20 N/mm when tested at about 37 degrees Celsius.
Claims Coverage
The claims include two independent claims covering two inventive features directed to the layer-based production of hollow polycarbonate urethane stents.
Seamless hollow polycarbonate urethane airway stent production
Independent claim 1 covers producing a seamless, hollow polycarbonate urethane airway stent by forming successive layers with outer and inner perimeters and rectilinear infill, specifying different nozzle starting points between layers, with dependent claims describing layer geometry and an exterior surface shaped to fit compatibly against an airway.
Hollow polycarbonate urethane stent with specified wall thickness and radial stiffness
Independent claim 11 covers forming a hollow polycarbonate urethane stent in discrete vertical layers by extruding melted filament with rectilinear infill extending from an outer perimeter to an inner perimeter, specifying a wall thickness of 0.75 mm to 0.85 mm and radial stiffness of 8 to 20 N/mm tested at about 37 degrees Celsius.
The independent claims cover layer-based production of hollow polycarbonate urethane stents, distinguishing a seamless airway stent method with layer-specific starting points from a discrete-layer stent method characterized by specified wall thickness and radial stiffness.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Production of polycarbonate urethane airway stents, including patient-specific stent modeling from airway scans and stents with an exterior surface shaped to fit compatibly against the interior surface of an airway.
Production of a polycarbonate urethane stent identified as a medical device.
Interested in licensing this patent?