Easy Removability Research Articles

Development of κ-carrageenan-PEG/lecithin bioactive hydrogel membranes for antibacterial adhesion and painless detachment

The issue of wound dressing adherence poses a substantial challenge in the field of wound care, with implications both clinically and economically. Overcoming this challenge requires the development of a hydrogel dressing that enables painless removal without causing any secondary damage. However, addressing this issue still remains a significant challenge that requires attention and further exploration. The present study is focused on the synthesis of hydrogel membranes based on κ-carrageenan (CG), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and soy lecithin (LC), which can provide superior antioxidant and antibacterial attachment properties with a tissue anti adhesion activity for allowing an easy removability without causing secondary damage. The (CG-PEG)/LC mass ratio was varied to fabricate hydrogel membranes via a facile approach of physical blending and solution casting. The physicochemical properties of (CG-PEG)/LC hydrogel membranes were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and mechanical analyses. The membranes showed significantly enhanced mechanical properties with excellent flexibility and had high swelling capacity (˃1000 %), which would provide a moist condition for wound healing. The membranes also exhibited excellent free radical scavenging ability (>60 %). In addition, the (CG-PEG)/LC hydrogel membranes showed reduced peel strength 26.5 N/m as a result of weakening the hydrogel-gelatin interface during an in vitro gelatin peeling test. Moreover, the membrane showed superior antibacterial adhesion activity (>90 %) against both S. aureus and E. coli due to the presence of both PEG and LC. The results also suggested that the hydrogel membranes exhibit NIH3T3 cell antiadhesion property, making them promising material for easy detachment from the healed tissue without causing secondary damage. Thus, this novel combination of (CG-PEG)/LC hydrogel membranes have immense application potential as a biomaterial in the healthcare sector.

Indications, limitations, and outcomes of clear aligners in orthodontic treatment

Clear aligners have gained popularity in orthodontic treatment as a comfortable and aesthetically pleasing alternative to traditional braces. The use of clear aligners has increased due to their advantages, including improved aesthetics, easy removability, and minimal soft tissue irritation. The treatment process involves sequential aligners custom-made for each patient, using computer-aided design and manufacturing technology. Clear aligners employ controlled forces to gradually move teeth into proper alignment. However, clear aligners have limitations, such as the need for patient compliance and their effectiveness in addressing complex malocclusions. Clinical considerations include thorough assessment, regular follow-up visits, and patient education. Treatment outcomes vary depending on the specific malocclusion characteristics. Clear aligners have demonstrated benefits in treating mild malocclusions, spacing issues, and certain types of malocclusion corrections. Treatment duration may be shorter compared to fixed appliances in mild cases. Stability and periodontal health can be influenced by clear aligner therapy, which has effects on plaque levels and gingival inflammation. Root resorption is a concern, but aligners have shown a lower prevalence compared to fixed appliances. Compliance, eruption of permanent teeth, and limitations in visualizing hard and soft tissues are important considerations. Overall, clear aligners offer an aesthetic orthodontic treatment option for a variety of dental abnormalities and mild to moderate orthodontic issues.

Bioengineered MSC-derived exosomes in skin wound repair and regeneration.

Refractory skin defects such as pressure ulcers, diabetic ulcers, and vascular ulcers represent a challenge for clinicians and researchers in many aspects. The treatment strategies for wound healing have high cost and limited efficacy. To ease the financial and psychological burden on patients, a more effective therapeutic approach is needed to address the chronic wound. MSC-derived exosomes (MSC-exosomes), the main bioactive extracellular vesicles of the paracrine effect of MSCs, have been proposed as a new potential cell-free approach for wound healing and skin regeneration. The benefits of MSC-exosomes include their ability to promote angiogenesis and cell proliferation, increase collagen production, regulate inflammation, and finally improve tissue regenerative capacity. However, poor targeting and easy removability of MSC-exosomes from the wound are major obstacles to their use in clinical therapy. Thus, the concept of bioengineering technology has been introduced to modify exosomes, enabling higher concentrations and construction of particles of greater stability with specific therapeutic capability. The use of biomaterials to load MSC-exosomes may be a promising strategy to concentrate dose, create the desired therapeutic efficacy, and maintain a sustained release effect. The beneficial role of MSC-exosomes in wound healing is been widely accepted; however, the potential of bioengineering-modified MSC-exosomes remains unclear. In this review, we attempt to summarize the therapeutic applications of modified MSC-exosomes in wound healing and skin regeneration. The challenges and prospects of bioengineered MSC-exosomes are also discussed.

Simulation-Based Support Generation for Laser Powder Bed Fusion Processes.

The rise of additive manufacturing, particularly laser powder bed fusion, has enabled new degrees of freedom in terms of design and functionality. Notably high-performance industries such as the medical, automotive, and aerospace industries are on the edge of broad industrial application. However, the quality standards required for these industries are not yet entirely met. Process-related temperature-induced residual stresses within the component can lead to warpage and deformations causing rejects. Support structures are a vital counter measure to absorb these residual stresses and ensure the required print quality. While the current industrial standard for support structure generation mainly focuses on geometrical boundary conditions, this study presents a simulation-based approach taking into account residual stresses. The proposed approach determines the stress distribution during the process from a thermomechanical finite element process simulation and uses these results for the allocation of topology-optimized stackable unit cells. To assure a reliable connection to the component while offering easy removability of the support, different connection support structures in the interface area were tested and integrated in the proposed approach. The result is a robust tailored lattice support structure minimizing residual stresses to achieve high component quality, while focusing on cost-efficiency factors such as minimal material usage, easy support removability, and numerical efficiency. Finally, the proposed approach was tested on a demonstrator part printed from AlSi10Mg.

PH/Glucose Dual Responsive Metformin Release Hydrogel Dressings with Adhesion and Self-Healing via Dual-Dynamic Bonding for Athletic Diabetic Foot Wound Healing.

In view of the lack of a specific drug-sustained release system that is responsive to chronic wounds of the type II diabetic foot, and the demands for frequent movement at the foot wound, pH/glucose dual-responsive metformin-released adhesion-enhanced self-healing easy-removable antibacterial antioxidant conductive hemostasis multifunctional phenylboronic acid and benzaldehyde bifunctional polyethylene glycol-co-poly(glycerol sebacic acid)/dihydrocaffeic acid and l-arginine cografted chitosan (PEGS-PBA-BA/CS-DA-LAG, denoted as PC) hydrogel dressings were constructed based on the double dynamic bond of the Schiff-base and phenylboronate ester. It was further demonstrated that the PC hydrogel promotes wound healing by reducing inflammation and enhancing angiogenesis in a rat type II diabetic foot model. In addition, the addition of metformin (Met) and graphene oxide (GO), as well as their synergy, were confirmed to better promote wound repair in vivo. In summary, adhesion-enhanced self-healing multifunctional PC/GO/Met hydrogels with stimuli-responsive metformin release ability and easy removability have shown a promoting effect on the healing of chronic athletic diabetic wounds and provide a local-specific drug dual-response release strategy for the treatment of type II diabetic feet.

Optimizing the performance of sustainable nail gel compositions using a mixture experimental design methodology

This study presents the development of two major classes of oligomers extensively used in nail gel formulations – urethane acrylates and polyester acrylates – using sustainable routes. To this end, a series of non-isocyanate acrylic functional polyurethane oligomers (NIPU-ACs) were synthesized by the reaction of cyclic carbonates with a stoichiometric excess of amine, followed by reacting the amine-end groups with methacrylic anhydride (MAAH) to introduce the acrylate functionalities. Moreover, a series of different bio-renewable based polyester oligomers (BR-PS) were synthesized from ring-opening esterification of epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) with various mono/di acids such as rosin, benzoic acid, and itaconic acid.Next, the mixture experimental design methodology was used to formulate two categories of sustainable nail gels based on NIPU-ACs and BR-PS oligomers. The formulations were then evaluated for a set of screening tests, and Design-Expert® software was used to determine the most suitable correlation between the variable parameters and responses. In each category, the optimized formulation was selected based on the desired performance criteria and evaluated for complementary tests. Finally, three-layer nail gels systems were also developed and tested for durability and removability.The nail gel systems developed in this study not only have eco-friendly composition but meet critical requirements such as fast-curing (1−2 min), easy removability (in 5 min), high gloss (> 85 T 60°), and high durability (> 10,000 wet scrub cycles, acetone double rubs > 100, and abrasion resistance of < 20 mg after 500 cycles). The combination of these attributes makes these nail gels attractive alternatives to the incumbent products for commercial markets.

Multifunctional Tissue-Adhesive Cryogel Wound Dressing for Rapid Nonpressing Surface Hemorrhage and Wound Repair.

Cryogels with tissue adhesion have great potential as wound dressings for rapid hemostasis for uncontrollable nonpressing surface hemorrhage and wound healing, but their use has not been reported previously. Herein, we designed a series of antibacterial and antioxidant tissue-adhesive cryogels based on quaternized chitosan (QCS) and polydopamine (PDA). These cryogels had good blood cell and platelet adhesion, enrichment, and activation properties for rapid nonpressing surface hemostasis and wound healing. The cryogels exhibited outstanding mechanical strength and easy removability, antioxidant activity, and NIR photothermal-enhanced antibacterial performance. The cryogels showed much better hemostasis than gauze and gelatin sponge in a standardized strip rat liver injury model, a standardized circular rabbit liver section model, and a pig skin laceration model. Furthermore, the excellent hemostatic performance of the QCS/PDA2.0 cryogel (containing 20 mg/mL QCS and 2.0 mg/mL PDA) for coagulopathic hemorrhages was confirmed in a standardized coagulation disorder rabbit circular liver section model. In addition, the QCS/PDA2.0 cryogel promoted rapid hemostasis in a deep noncompressible wound and a much better wound healing effect than a chitosan sponge and Tegaderm film in a full-thickness skin defect model. Overall, these multifunctional tissue-adhesive cryogels with excellent hemostatic performance and enhanced wound healing properties are suitable candidates for tissue-adhesive hemostat and wound healing dressings.

Adhesives for “debonding-on-demand”: Triggered release mechanisms and typical applications

Pressure sensitive adhesives (PSAs) are utilized for temporary applications since bonding and debonding are determined by the adhesive-substrate interface and the mechanical and rheological properties of the PSA. Moreover, a wide variety of basic materials allows for proper adjustment of the adhesive properties (tack, peel adhesion, cohesion). Where the adjustment of the adhesive's chemical composition is not efficient enough to provide easy and clean removability in the end of the application, release functions can be incorporated into the adhesive system. The adhesive strength is reduced upon the action of external triggers such as UV-irradiation, heat, the use of electric currents or magnetic fields. Thereby, debonding may follow various mechanisms, including phase changes, chemical reactions, crosslinking and volumetric expansion. Furthermore, electrostatic attraction, polarization, shape memory effects and mechanical adhesion can be employed. This review summarizes the most important properties of PSAs and provides an overview of well-proven as well as new approaches for “debonding-on-demand” adhesive systems. In addition, the article describes proposed and already implemented applications of the presented adhesive systems in the microelectronic industry, the automotive sector and the healthcare field.

Removable/fluorescent adhesive made by melamine-formaldehyde cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol and its repair application in artifacts

Nowadays, most of adhesives used for artifacts are colorless and non-removable resins, which makes it difficult to detect repaired location and cause some damage to the artifacts. Herein, we devolved the removable and fluorescent adhesive with melamine-formaldehyde (MF) resin cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The polar sensitive fluorescent dye of 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid (ANS) was encapsulated in the branched MF pre-polymer, and the obtained ANS@MF was employed as cross-linker to prepare cross-linked PVA (ANS@MF-PVA) to yield a series of water-soluble fluorescent adhesives. The obtained ANS@MF-PVA adhesives are colorless and transparent and show strong blue-green fluorescence under UV excitation, enabling it easy to detect their precise location on artifacts. Compared with PVA adhesive, the fluorescent ANS@MF-PVA adhesives present a better thermal stability and enhanced mechanic performance. ANS@MF-PVA samples all show higher adhesive strength (298.25 N, 0.95 MPa to 466.63 N, 1.49 MPa) than pure PVA (201.25 N, 0.64 MPa), which is positively correlated with their MF content. The ANS@MF-PVA is applied to adhere the glass substrates, ceramics and pottery figurine, and demonstrated excellent fluorescence, easy removability, and high durability. We believe that the ANS@MF-PVA fluorescent adhesives will provide art conservators with a new tool to aid in the reconstruction or repair of artifacts.

Thermo-resettable cross-linked polymers for reusable/removable adhesives

Reusable and removable adhesives have been synthesized using dynamic Diels–Alder chemistry with high lap shear strength, good reusability and easy removability.

Chitosan microspheres as a template for TiO2and ZnO microparticles: studies on mechanism, functionalization and applications in photocatalysis and H2S removal

Highly efficient micron-sized photocatalysts with easy removability and recyclability features.

The Effectiveness of Using Banana Leaf Dressing in Management of Partial Thickness Burns’ Wound

Background & Aim : An important factor in the healing of partial thickness burn is early and effective coverage with a dressing that is non-adherent; protects the wound from trauma and decrease pain during dressing change and ensures feeling of comfort and ease of handling. Wound care needs to be undertaken in the context of the local environment and access to costly wound products is not an option in many settings. In these situations, creativity and innovation have led to many excellent alternatives being developed. So this study amid to investigate the effectiveness of Banana Leaf Dressing (BLD) over partial thickness burns in terms of pain reduction, increasing comfort, easy removability of dressing, and early wound healing among burns patients who admitted with burns up to 50% of TBSA in selected hospital. Methods & Materials: A convenient sample of 38 patients with partial thickness burn wound over comparable areas, e.g. either upper extremities or lower extremities or both, comparable body areas were used as study and control areas in the same patient. Data were collected on three points of time during patient hospitalization using discomfort score, dressing removal pain score, and the easiness of dressing removal score. Results: BLD has significant out come on wound healing process. Patient suffered less discomfort and less pain during dressing removal with BLD than with ordinary dressing. Also with BLD removal of dressing was easier than ordinarydressing. In addition, time to complete healing was significantly less with BLD than others. Conclusion: It was clear that BLD is a completely non-adherent, nearly painless, and cheaper dressing.

Fabrication of 340-GHz Folded Waveguides Using KMPR Photoresist

This letter presents the fabrication of 340-GHz copper folded waveguides (FWGs) using the UV-LIGA method. During the process, KMPR photoresist was employed instead of SU-8 due to its easy removability after electroforming. KMPR patterns with a sidewall height of 300 <formula formulatype="inline" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex Notation="TeX">$\mu\hbox{m}$</tex></formula> and a trench width of 100 <formula formulatype="inline" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex Notation="TeX">$\mu\hbox{m}$</tex></formula> were achieved repeatedly under one single-spin deposition and optimized processing conditions, such as UV exposure dose and KMPR bake temperature and time. The dimensional accuracies of the wide side (500 <formula formulatype="inline" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex Notation="TeX">$\mu\hbox{m}$</tex> </formula> ) and narrow side (100 <formula formulatype="inline" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex Notation="TeX">$\mu\hbox{m}$</tex></formula> ) of the copper FWGs were found to be <formula formulatype="inline" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex Notation="TeX">$\leqslant \hbox{6}$</tex></formula> and <formula formulatype="inline" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex Notation="TeX">$\leqslant \hbox{2}\ \mu\hbox{m}$</tex></formula> , respectively, and the sidewall surface roughness was about 44 nm, with a profile of about 90 <formula formulatype="inline" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex Notation="TeX">$^{\circ}$</tex> </formula> .

A Systematic Review on Efficacy and Safety of Partially and Fully Covered Self-Expandable Metal Stent (SEMS) Compared to Multiple Plastic Stents (MPS) in the Endoscopic Management of Anastomotic Biliary Stricture Post Orthotopic Liver Transplantation (OLT)

Purpose: Anastomotic biliary strictures (AS) account for up to 80% of biliary strictures post OLT. Several case series have reported stricture resolution rates in the range of 60-90% with balloon dilatation and multiple plastic stents (MPS). This strategy requires multiple ERCPs with associated risks, cost and patient burden. More recently, partially and fully covered SEMSs have been increasingly utilized in this setting, given their larger diameter and easy removability. It is not clear whether there are clear advantages of using SEMS over MPS in all cases. Methods: A systematic review on SEMS and MPS placement for AS was performed after searching Medline and Embase databases using the search terms anastomotic/biliary/bile duct stricture, endoscopy and ERCP. Inclusion criteria were 1) anastomotic stricture post OLT, 2) MPS or partially or fully covered SEMS. Exclusion criteria were 1) non anastomotic stricture, 2) living donor liver transplant, 3) single plastic stent, 4) uncovered SEMS, 5) studies including <5 patients. Data on clinical success and complications were extracted and summarized. Results: From a total of 791 studies, 8 studies (N=441) utilizing MPS and 9 studies (N=199) utilizing SEMS fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria (table 1 and table 2) and were included in this review. For the 8 MPS studies, the stricture resolution rates were higher when MPS duration was >6 months (88-100%) compared to those with <6 months (65-87%). The mean or median number of ERCPs per patient in MPS ranged between 3-4.2 and 2.5-3.5 when stenting duration was >6 months and <6 months, respectively. Five of the 8 SEMS studies involved previous plastic stenting plus balloon dilation. The stricture resolution rates were higher when SEMS duration was >3 months (80-95%) compared to those with <3 months (53-88%), but did not seem to differ whether there was previous plastic stenting plus balloon dilation or not (53-92% vs 67-95%). The mean or median number of ERCP per patient in SEMS ranged between 2.1-7.4 (3.4-7.4 in those with previous plastic stenting plus balloon dilation vs 2.1-3 in those without). Although the overall complication rates were low, SEMS migration rates were significant at 4-47%.Table: [160] Table 1. Results of studies utilizing multiple plastic stents + dilation in endoscopic management of AS post OLTTable: [160] Table 2. Results of studies utilizing partially or fully covered SEMS in endoscopic management of ASConclusion: Although SEMS appeared to be a promising option in the endoscopic management of AS post OLT, current evidence does not support its routine use.

Use of a Chondroitin Sulfate Isomer as an Effective and Removable Dispersant of Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Three isomers of chondroitin sulfate (CS), i.e., CS-A, CS-B, and CS-C, are investigated as nanotube dispersants and are found to have vastly different abilities to disperse single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in water due to their different intramolecular interactions. Only CS-A and CS-C effectively disperse SWNTs into small bundles or individual tubes while CS-B disperses SWNTs poorly. Computer simulation and circular dichrosim show that neat CS-A and CS-C have weak intramolecular hydrogen bonding and extended conformations in solution resulting in energetically more favorable interactions with nanotubes. CS-B has relatively strong intramolecular Coulombic interaction and more alpha-helical secondary structure in solution resulting in energetically less favorable interaction with the nanotubes. Atomic force microscopy images show helical wrappings of CS-A and CS-C around the SWNTs. Transmission electron microscopy corroborates the helical wrapping of CS-A. Different isomeric forms of a polymer can have vastly different dispersing power because of their different intramolecular interactions and conformations. The easy removability of CS-A from nanotubes is confirmed with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showing almost no detectable sulphur content after washing with water and by application of washed CS-A dispersed SWNTs in field-effect transistors.

A novel lumen-apposing stent for transluminal drainage of nonadherent extraintestinal fluid collections

Tubular stents have been used to accomplish endoscopic transluminal drainage, but do not impart lumen-to-lumen anchorage. We evaluated a novel lumen-apposing stent designed for enteric drainage of nonadherent lumens. Ex vivo benchtop testing was performed to quantify various physical and performance metrics of the stent (Axios). A simulator was developed to test the stent deployment through an echoendoscope. Survival experiments were performed on four pigs. Under endosonographic guidance, a cholecystogastrostomy tract was created and the stent was deployed across the lumens. Direct cholecystoscopy was performed. Surveillance gastroscopy was performed at weekly intervals for up to 8 weeks. Measured outcomes were procedural success, safety, and device durability and patency. In benchtop testing, the Axios stent withstood various vector forces of movement, yet allowed easy removability from the simulated tissue. The stent was successfully deployed across the stomach and gallbladder lumens in all four animals without complication. Direct cholecystoscopy and contrast injection documented the absence of tissue trauma and leakage. Gastroscopy at weekly intervals showed the stent in stable position without dislodgment. The stent remained patent in all animals. The covering remained intact and there was no hyperplastic tissue ingrowth or overgrowth, or tissue injury. One stent was removed at 4 weeks. On necropsy, the gallbladders showed focal adherence to the stomach at the site of cystogastrostomy with a negative leak test. The Axios stent enables the creation of a robust and reliable conduit between nonadherent lumens around the gastrointestinal tract.

Enrichment of (8,4) Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes Through Coextraction with Heparin

Heparin sodium salt is investigated as a dispersant for dispersing single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). Photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectroscopy is used for identification and abundance estimation of the chiral species. It is found that heparin sodium salt preferentially disperses larger-diameter Hipco SWNTs. When used to disperse CoMoCAT nanotube samples, heparin has a strong preference for (8,4) tubes, which have larger diameter than the predominant (6,5) in pristine CoMoCAT samples. PLE intensity due to (8,4) tubes increases from 7% to 60% of the total after threefold extractions. Computer modeling verifies that the complex of (8,4) SWNTs and heparin has the lowest binding energy amongst the four semiconducting species present in CoMoCAT. Network field-effect transistors are successfully made with CoMoCAT/heparin and CoMoCAT/sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS)-heparin (x3), confirming the easy removability of heparin.

Clinical Experience With a New Removable Tracheobronchial Stent in the Management of Airway Complications After Lung Transplantation

Airway complications are among the most challenging problems after lung transplantation. This article describes the use of a new tracheobronchial stent that can be placed and removed easily by flexible bronchoscopy. A retrospective review was done of 24 consecutive patients requiring tracheobronchial stent placement after lung transplantation. A new self-expanding hybrid nitinol stent was used, and changes in airway diameter and spirometry were assessed. Stent related complications were recorded. Between February 2007 and April 2008, 24 patients underwent stent placement, and 49 stents were placed for 36 anastomoses at risk. Indications included bronchial stenosis in 12, bronchomalacia in 12, bronchial stenosis plus bronchomalacia in 20, and partial bronchial dehiscence in 5. Adjunctive procedures included electrocautery in 1, balloon dilatation in 7, and electrocautery plus balloon dilatation in 4. The average degree of stenosis decreased from 80% to 20%. After stent placement, the average increase was 0.28 liters in forced vital capacity and 0.44 liters in forced expiratory volume in 1 second. Complications included granulation tissue formation in 10 stents, migration in 9, thick mucus formation in 2, and fracture in 3. Airway complications in lung transplant patients were effectively palliated. Our complication rate with this new stent is comparable with other airway stents. This stent has the advantage of easy removability during flexible bronchoscopy if complications from the stent outweigh the benefits of palliation.

AERO™ self-expanding hybrid stent for airway stenosis

Self-expanding metal, as well as silicon, stents have long been available for use in the airway. Metal stents can be placed using a flexible bronchoscope and are less readily removed. Silicone stents require rigid bronchoscopy and general anesthesia for placement but are removable. Both technologies are prone to complications on a long-term basis. A new self-expanding hybrid stent, the AERO™ stent (Alveolus, Inc., NC, USA), combines the best features of metal and silicone stents with a completely covered nitinol framework. The potential advantages of a self-expanding hybrid stent include placement using flexible bronchoscopy under conscious sedation, easy removability and a potential reduction in common long-term stent implant complications. This article profiles the AERO device and evaluates stent technology in general.

Experience with a Removable Self-Expanding Plastic Esophageal Stent (Polyflex® Stent) As a Continuous, Non-Permanent Dilator for Refractory Benign Esophageal Strictures

Introduction: Refractory benign esophageal strictures (RBES) are difficult to treat requiring frequent dilatations or surgery. Conceptually, while maintaining luminal patency, if a dilator is kept in place continuously for several weeks, the benefits may be longer lasting. Expandable esophageal metal stents are ideal in achieving the above but their role in treating benign esophageal strictures is limited by their lack of easy removability. A self-expanding plastic esophageal stent, Polyflex® stent (PS), can be removed and preliminary results on its use for treating RBES have been encouraging.Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of PS in the treatment of RBES.Methods: Forty patients with RBES [mean age 60 ± 15SD yrs, female 14 male 26, Anastamotic12 (fistula 4), Corrosive 8, Radiation 7, Pill induced 4, Post trauma 3 (fistula 3), Peptic 2, Others 4 (fistula 1)] were prospectively studied.