A Bespoke Programmable Interpenetrating Elastomer Network Composite Laryngeal Stent for Expedited Paediatric Laryngotracheal Reconstruction
Abstract Laryngotracheal reconstruction surgery (LTR) is the standard treatment for paediatric upper airway stenosis, enabling tracheostomy decannulation, and restoration of vocalization. In complex infant cases, postoperative stenting is essential for graft integration and minimization of restenosis, yet available off‐the‐shelf stents are often unsuitable for small patients. Here, a case of acquired‐on‐congenital laryngeal atresia is reported, where early reconstruction in infancy was performed. To support this intervention, a personalized laryngeal stent was developed from a digitally programmable interpenetrating elastomer network (IEN) composite tailored to the patient's anatomy, balancing structural stiffness with surface softness. The stent was fabricated by combining 3D inverse‐printed thermoplastic polyurethane (3D‐TIPS) scaffolds with vacuum‐assisted silicone resin infusion, yielding an elastomer with tenable geometry, hardness, and biomechanical compliance optimized for paediatric use. Manufactured in accordance with UK Good Manufacturing Practice guidelines, the stent was deployed during LTR at 5 months of age and safely removed after 6 weeks. The stented repair healed well, with decannulation at 27 months. At 8‐year follow‐up, the patient demonstrates strong vocalization, good airway protection, and normal swallowing. Beyond this case, this work establishes a versatile platform for rapid manufacture of patient‐specific elastomer implants with programmable mechanical and surface properties for soft‐tissue reconstruction.
Authors
- Graça Mendes
- Richard Hewitt (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4294-0052)
- Mark W. Lowdell (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2600-5024)
- Martin Birchall (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9211-1722)
- Robert E. Hynds (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2170-8791)
- Wenhui Song (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8406-472X)
- Heping Ma (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7551-2639)
- Elizabeth Maughan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6899-7589)
- Dong Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1629-4886)
- Toby J. Proctor
- Thomas Kjærgaard (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5090-4812)
- Colin R. Butler (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4192-0519)
- Lei Wu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0268-6304)
- Linxiao Wu
- Wenhui Tu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3509-5730)
Institutions
- Energy Institute (GB)
- University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
- Great Ormond Street Hospital (GB)
- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
- Aarhus University Hospital (DK)
- Amity University (AE)
- Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital (GB)
- NIHR Surgical Reconstruction and Microbiology Research Centre (GB)
- University College London (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Advanced Functional Materials
- Published
- 2025-11-10
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202513861
- Primary Topic
- Tracheal and airway disorders
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Wellcome Trust
- University College London
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council