Researchers from NYU Abu Dhabi and Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi have developed a novel stent design that could significantly improve treatment for gastric leaks in some patients following weight-loss surgery, helping accelerate recovery, enable a faster return to daily life, and reduce the need for certain additional treatment procedures that these cases may require.
In the study, published in Advanced Healthcare Materials, the team introduced the “Lily” stent, a device inspired by natural geometry and developed using a design framework called PETALS (Personalized Endoscopic Transmural Abscess Leak Solution). The Lily design features a six-part, flower-like structure that creates more efficient pathways for fluid drainage.
Laboratory testing showed the new design increased drainage flow by approximately 30 percent compared with commonly used cylindrical commercial stents. The researchers found that the shape of the stent’s cross-section plays a critical role in how effectively fluid moves, more so than factors such as anchoring features or simply increasing the tube’s diameter.
“The key insight is that the geometry of the tube’s cross-section fundamentally determines how fast fluid moves through it,” said Khalil Ramadi, Assistant Professor of Bioengineering at NYU Abu Dhabi and Global Network Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at NYU Tandon School of Engineering, and the study’s senior author. “We’re not just making it out of a different material. We’re changing the shape to make it work better.”
"Our work shifts the focus from placing a stent to engineering its function at a structural level,” said Parima Phowarasoontorn, a research assistant in Ramadi’s NYU Abu Dhabi lab and the paper’s first author. "Instead of simple tubes, we introduce cross-sectional designs that improve drainage while remaining compatible with existing endoscopic delivery procedures.”
“This collaboration with NYU Abu Dhabi reflects our commitment at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi to advancing clinically relevant research that directly improves patient care,” said Dr. Sawsan Abdel-Razig, Chief Academic Officer at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. “By bringing together engineering innovation and clinical expertise, this research demonstrates how academic partnerships can help advance meaningful solutions to complex surgical challenges.”
The Lily stent is also more flexible than existing polyethylene devices, which may improve patient comfort and reduce tissue damage. Early testing suggests comparable biocompatibility to current materials, while its structure allows for manufacturing using conventional methods without requiring specialized 3D printing infrastructure.
While the device has so far been tested in simulations and laboratory models, further studies will be needed before it can move toward clinical use. If successful, the innovation could help reduce recovery times and the need for repeat procedures for patients undergoing bariatric surgery.
In addition to Ramadi and Phowarasoontorn, the paper's authors are Yongbin Ko, Sungyun Sohn, Heba Tageldeen Naser, Abdel-Hameed Dabbour, Batoul Khlaifat, Oraib Al-Ketan, and Mohamed Ali, all of NYU Abu Dhabi; Juan S. Barajas-Gamboa, Juan P. Pantoja, Ahmed AlZubaidi, Carlos Abril Vega, and John Rodriguez of the Digestive Disease Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi; and Matthew Kroh of the Digestive Disease Institute at Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. Funding for the research was provided by NYU Abu Dhabi and Sandooq Al Watan.
