October 2003
Oxford Invention Reaches Finals in 2003 Medical Futures Innovation Awards
Zhoung You, Lecturer in Biomechanical Engineering
University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science
Invention:
Origami Stents
Scientists from Oxford have brought together the principles of the ancient Japanese art of origami with the modern medical treatment of stenting, creating a new family of stent grafts. Stent grafts are flexible expandable tubes which are used to prop open narrowed organs such as arteries and oesophagus or to protect the weakened aorta. The new technology allows stent grafts being made from any existing bio-compatible materials and adopted for different anatomic sites. The inventors believe that it will have significant advantages over current stent grafts including increased reliability and strength at much lower costs.
For more information about the competition, visit www.medicalfutures.co.uk