Plastic & Metal Biliary Stents Industry Research Report 2026

Definition

Plastic and metal biliary stents are implantable tubular medical devices placed endoscopically or percutaneously within the extrahepatic or intrahepatic bile ducts to restore or maintain patency of the biliary tree in the presence of benign or malignant obstruction, thereby ensuring adequate bile drainage into the duodenum or an external collection system. In this category, plastic biliary stents are typically manufactured from biocompatible polymers such as polyethylene, polyurethane or PTFE, supplied as pre-formed straight or pigtail tubes in fixed French sizes and lengths, and are intended for relatively short- to medium-term use because of their smaller inner diameter, higher risk of occlusion by biofilm or sludge, and easier removability or exchange in benign disease. Metal biliary stents are usually self-expandable metallic stents (SEMS) made from stainless steel or nitinol wire meshes, delivered in a constrained state through a catheter and deployed under fluoroscopic and endoscopic guidance to expand radially against the duct wall; they offer a larger effective lumen, longer patency and higher radial force, and are used predominantly for palliation of malignant biliary obstruction, with covered and uncovered designs selected according to the need to limit tumor ingrowth versus preserving side-branch drainage. Together, plastic and metal biliary stents constitute a core interventional therapy segment within endoscopic and interventional radiology practice, serving as minimally invasive alternatives to surgical bypass for managing obstructive jaundice and related complications.