NuAIR stent: A respiratory stent inspired by nature, achieved through cutting edge architecture and engineering

Airway obstructions cause breathlessness and difficulty swallowing. They occur in up to 30%
of lung cancer patients, where prognosis is often poor and palliative treatment the only option.
Additionally, there were over 2,000 patients suffering from tracheomalacia (collapsed airway)
and stenosis (abnormal narrowing of the airway) in the UK last year.
The current gold standard treatment for airway obstruction is surgical resection. However,
surgery is an invasive, time consuming procedure and complications such as infection may
arise during recovery. An alternative is to use Airway stents, hollow cylindrical prostheses
that provide support. They can be deployed without surgery and provide significant relief
from the discomfort associated with an obstructed airway, a marked increase in quality of life,
and in many cases a prolonged lifespan.
There are a number of Airway stents on the market, including silicone, metal and hybrid
stents. Each of these have significant shortcomings. Silicone stents tend to migrate and require
re positioning. Metal stents have a risk of airway perforation and are very difficult to remove
or reposition. Hybrid stents are significantly more expensive than either silicone or metal
stents. There is a growing, unmet need for the perfect Airway stent.
We propose to create NuAIR, an Airway stent customised for patients that possesses all the
characteristics of the perfect stent. It will be made using biocompatible collagen and a
synthetic polymer to meet the physiological demands of the trachea. The design will be
inspired by structural architecture found in nature. This will result in a stent that is strong yet
flexible, using the minimal amount of material. NuAIR will be made by 3D-printing, a fast
and cost effective method. Most importantly, this will allow customisation of stents based on
computerised-tomography (CT) scans of individual patients. This will reduce unwanted
movement and increase comfort – key components of the ideal stent.