Ureteral stents and related methods

• US 20030109930A1
• Filed: 12/11/2001
• Published: 06/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Gellman, Barry, Bluni, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 7,041,139 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/23.7
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/04 Hollow or tubular parts of organs, e.g. bladders, tracheae, bronchi or bile ducts A61F2/18, A61F2/20 take precedence; devices, other than stent-grafts, providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body other than stent-grafts, e.g. stents A61F2/82; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/008 pre-shaped, for use in the urethral or ureteral tract

Abstract

A medical device for use within a body cavity comprising an elongated body portion and a retention module. The retention module comprises a fixation element and a tether connector. The tether connector and fixation element permit the device to move a predetermined distance longitudinally. The tether connector reduces ureteral reflux, and minimizes irritation and patient discomfort. The fixation element and the tether connector further function as a graspable structure for removal of the stent.

Claims

1. A medical device for use within a body cavity, the medical device comprising:

an elongated body portion defining a lumen, said body portion comprising a proximal end, a distal end, a proximal portion, and a distal portion; and

,

a retention module disposed proximal to said proximal end of said elongated body portion, said retention module comprising a fixation element attached to the elongated body portion by a tether connector.

2. The medical device of claim 1 wherein said fixation element is substantially buoyant.

3. The medical device of claim 1 wherein said fixation element comprises a size and configuration that prohibits the passage of said fixation element from the lumen of the urinary bladder into the lumen of the ureter.

4. The medical device of claim 1 wherein said fixation element is a substantially planar spiral.

5. The medical device of claim 1 wherein said fixation element is a substantially helical spiral.

6. The medical device of claim 1 wherein said proximal portion of said elongated body portion is substantially more compressible than the other portions of said elongated body portion.

7. The medical device of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of the retention modules.

8. The medical device of claim 1 wherein said tether connector is substantially elastic.

9. The medical device of claim 1 wherein said tether connector is substantially rigid.

10. The medical device of claim 1 wherein said distal portion of said elongated body portion comprises a planar spiral loop for retention in the renal pelvis.

11. The medical device of claim 1 wherein said elongated body portion is substantially rigid to prevent its deformation during insertion through the ureter.

12. The medical device of claim 1 wherein said elongated body portion defines a plurality of openings along its length.

13. The medical device of claim 1 wherein said fixation element is substantially spherical.

14. The medical device of claim 13 wherein the diameter of said fixation element is greater than the diameter of the lumen of the ureter.

15. A method of treating at least partial ureteral obstruction of a patient, comprising:

a. providing a medical device comprising an elongated body portion defining a lumen, the body portion comprising a proximal end, a distal end, a proximal portion, and a distal portion, the medical device further comprising a retention module disposed proximal to said proximal end of the elongated body portion, said retention module comprising a fixation element attached to the elongated body portion by a tether connector; and

b. inserting the medical device into the patient such that said fixation element is positioned in the bladder of the patient.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said fixation element is substantially buoyant.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the fixation element comprises a size and configuration that prohibits the passage of said fixation element from the lumen of the urinary bladder into the lumen of the ureter.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein said device further comprises a plurality of the retention modules.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein said tether connector is substantially elastic.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein said tether connector is substantially rigid.

21. The method of claim 15 wherein said distal portion comprises a planar spiral loop for retention in the renal pelvis.

22. The method of claim 15 wherein said elongated body portion is substantially rigid to prevent its deformation during insertion through the ureter.

23. The method of claim 15 wherein said elongated body portion defines a plurality of openings along its length.

24. The method of claim 15 wherein said fixation element is substantially spherical.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the diameter of said fixation element is greater than the diameter of the lumen of the ureter.

26. A medical device for use within a body cavity, the medical device comprising:

an elongated body portion defining a lumen, said elongated body portion comprising a proximal end, a distal end, a proximal portion and a distal portion and said elongated body portion including a plurality of pores, said distal portion comprising a planar spiral; and

,

at least one retention module attached to said proximal end of said elongated body portion, said retention module comprising at least one buoyant, spherical fixation element attached to the proximal end of said elongated body portion by a substantially elastic tether connector.