Imagine a tiny tube used to keep a kidney duct open, but instead of being a stiff plastic pipe that needs a second surgery to remove, it's made of a soft, water-based gel. This gel mimics natural tissue so it doesn't hurt the patient and simply melts away in urine after about 10 days. It's like a dissolvable stitch, but for the urinary tract.
Traditional ureteral stents cause pain for 80% of patients and require a costly second surgery for removal. Furthermore, 13% of stents are forgotten, leading to kidney failure and expensive emergency removals.
A biodegradable, hydrogel-based ureteral stent that dissolves naturally in urine flow within 7-10 days.
If you are a medical device company dealing with the high failure rates of rigid stents—where 13% are forgotten—this project developed a hydrogel stent that dissolves naturally. This eliminates the need for secondary removal procedures and reduces medical waste by 50%.
If you are a hospital operator dealing with high costs of stent removal, which cost approximately €900 per patient in the EU, this project developed a biodegradable alternative. It can cut overall treatment costs by about 60% by removing the need for a second intervention.
If you are a biotech firm dealing with biofilm and infection risks in implants, where 80-96% of patients get UTIs within 30 days, this project developed a 94% water-composition material. This specific hydrogel prevents bacterial adhesion and mineral buildup.
It eliminates the second surgical procedure required to remove traditional stents, which costs €900 per patient in the EU, potentially reducing total treatment costs by 60%.
The global ureteral stents market is expected to reach ~604M€ by 2030, with the project aiming for 25M€ in profits 5 years after launch.
Based on available project data, the project includes manufacturing validation and pre-clinical testing to prepare for clinical investigation.
The project includes continuous IP monitoring to secure freedom to operate and protect the technology.
The objective stated an intention to reach the EU market in 2024.
The project is led by a single SME, HYDRUMEDICAL SA from Portugal, which holds 100% of the industry ratio. This lean structure suggests a fast-track commercialization approach, combining urological expertise with biomaterials science within one entity to move quickly from validation to market.
Contact HYDRUMEDICAL SA in Portugal regarding the Hydrustent biodegradable technology.
Contact us to explore licensing opportunities for biodegradable hydrogel medical devices.
