Saint Francis Hospital is First in Connecticut to Place Custom Airway Stent
July 31, 2025HARTFORD, Conn. – Saint Francis Hospital recently became the first in Connecticut to utilize a custom silicone airway stent, a state-of-the-art solution for patients with central airway obstruction. Amrita Karambelkar, M.D., Assistant Director of Interventional Pulmonology, collaborated with VisionAir Solutions to design and produce the device, which was tailored to meet the unique anatomical requirements of the patient, ensuring a more precise and comfortable fit.
Individually designed for each patient, the device is used for patients with narrowing of the airway that causes breathing impairment.
Utilizing web-based software and 3D printing technology, custom stents can be designed for patients with conditions that have caused a narrowing of the airway and impair breathing and quality of life. Previously, non-custom airway stents have been available for patients, but have pre-determined sizes and angles, making them difficult to fit complicated airways.
After a patient is identified as being a candidate for a custom stent, a CT scan is performed and uploaded to the VisionAir Solutions V3D Stent Architect software. A virtual 3D model of the airway is created, and software tools allow the physician to design a stent specific to the patient’s unique anatomical characteristics. The approved stent is manufactured by VisionAir in Cleveland, delivered to the physician within 4-6 days and placed via rigid bronchoscopy. Dr. Karambelkar has advanced training in rigid bronchoscopy, allowing her to offer this high level of specialty care to patients in the greater Hartford region.
“We are now able to give patients a much higher quality of life,” said Dr. Karambelkar. “This procedure is improving on a specialty we already have, but by making it more individualized for each patient, we are providing an innovative solution for those who need it.”
Custom stents are another way the Interventional Pulmonology team at Saint Francis Hospital is revolutionizing care for patients with lung and airway conditions. To learn more about the conditions treated and procedures offered at Saint Francis, visit TrinityHealthOfNE.org/IP.