Innovative Biodegradable Gastric Stent Developed in UAE to Help Bariatric Surgery Patients

Scientists in the UAE have developed a biodegradable stent designed to cure gastric leaks that develop after surgery. The 3D-printed device dissolves inside the body, eliminating the need for surgeons to carry out a removal operation.

Unveiled by researchers at New York University Abu Dhabi, the biodegradable gastric stent is an improved version of a device revealed earlier this year, featuring different materials that enhance its function.

Dr Khalil Ramadi, an assistant professor of bioengineering at NYU Abu Dhabi, whose laboratory developed the stent, stated that the latest work demonstrates how re-engineering medical devices with advanced manufacturing technologies can fundamentally improve performance.

Gastric leaks are a complication that occurs in a small percentage of patients who undergo bariatric surgery. This surgery reduces the stomach's capacity or bypasses most of it, helping patients lose weight by feeling full more quickly. When a leak develops, fluid escapes and can form an abscess. Doctors respond by fitting a gastric stent across the site to seal it and improve drainage.

According to NYU Abu Dhabi, gastric leaks can require prolonged hospitalisation. Current stents, often designed for the bile duct, may not function well in the stomach, frequently draining slowly and slipping, which necessitates multiple procedures.

Parima Phowarasoontorn, a research assistant in Dr Ramadi’s laboratory and first author of the study, noted that medical devices are frequently adapted from other applications rather than designed for specific clinical challenges. By combining 3D printing with biodegradable materials, the team created a device that improves drainage while reducing the treatment burden.

Traditional gastric stents must be removed after six weeks to three months, requiring another operation. The new device, named Bridge—an acronym for Biodegradable aRchitected Internal DrainaGE—was designed in collaboration with Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

While further research is needed and the technology is not yet ready for patient use, the researchers hope their engineering approach will benefit a range of in-body drainage devices.