Medical stent and related methods

• US 20040181235A1
• Filed: 03/10/2003
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Daignault, Kenneth J., Intoccia, Alfred P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,347,866 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/108
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1089 Urethra
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/04 in the body, e.g. expansible A61M25/10, A61M16/0488 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/008 pre-shaped, for use in the urethral or ureteral tract

Abstract

A stent includes a conduit defining a lumen; a first malecot adjacent the conduit, where the first malecot includes at least two members having at least one slit therebetween and where the at least one slit is in fluid communication with the lumen; and a second malecot including an annular structure surrounding and protruding from the conduit. A method for placing a stent includes inserting into a patient a stent and a stylet disposed within the stent, where the stylet includes an expandable member, expanding the expandable member, seating the stent, and removing the expandable member.

Claims

1. A stent comprising:

a conduit defining a lumen;

a first malecot adjacent the conduit, wherein the first malecot comprises at least two members having at least one slit therebetween, wherein the at least one slit is in fluid communication with the lumen; and

a second malecot comprising an annular structure surrounding and protruding from the conduit.

2. The stent of claim 1 wherein the first malecot comprises a diameter larger than a diameter of the second malecot.

3. The stent of claim 1 wherein at least one of the conduit, the first malecot, and the second malecot are formed from a material having a durometer value less than about 60 on a Shore A scale.

4. The stent of claim 1 wherein at least one of the conduit, the first malecot, and the second malecot are formed from a material having a durometer value less than about 30 on a Shore A scale.

5. The stent of claim 1 wherein at least one of the conduit, the first malecot, and the second malecot comprise a silicone polymer.

6. The stent of claim 1 wherein the at least two members are capable of folding such that the size of the at least one slit is larger when the at least two members are in a first position than when the at least two members are in a second position.

7. The stent of claim 1 wherein the annular structure is disposed at an angle relative to the conduit.

8. The stent of claim 1 wherein the annular structure is enclosed.

9. The stent of claim 1 wherein the conduit, the first malecot, and the second malecot comprise a primary stent body and wherein the primary stent body is connected to a third malecot.

10. The stent of claim 1 further comprising a spring disposed within the conduit.

11. The stent of claim 10 wherein the spring is disposed within a wall of the conduit.

12. A method of placing a stent in a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

inserting into a patient a stent and a stylet disposed within the stent, wherein the stylet comprises an expandable member;

expanding the expandable member;

seating the stent; and

removing the expandable member from the patient.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the stent is inserted without the aid of a scope.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the expandable member is positioned within the stent.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the expandable member comprises a balloon.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein at least a portion of the stent is positioned within a prostatic urethra of the patient.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the stent comprises:

a conduit defining a lumen;

a first malecot adjacent the conduit, wherein the first malecot comprises at least two members having at least one slit therebetween, wherein the at least one slit is in fluid communication with the lumen; and

a second malecot comprising an annular structure surrounding and protruding from the conduit.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the expandable member is expanded within the first malecot.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein the stent comprises a conduit adjacent to a malecot capable of moving between a first conformation and a second conformation.

20. The method of claim 12 wherein the stent comprises:

a first conduit defining a lumen, the first conduit comprising at least one malecot selected from the group consisting of a malecot comprising at least two members having at least one slit therebetween, wherein the at least one slit is in fluid communication with the lumen, and a malecot comprising an annular structure surrounding and protruding from the first conduit; and

a second conduit connected to the first conduit.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the connection between the first and second conduit traverses a sphincter in the patient.

22. A stent comprising:

a first conduit defining a lumen, the first conduit comprising at least one malecot selected from the group consisting of a malecot comprising at least two members having at least one slit therebetween, wherein the at least one slit is in fluid communication with the lumen, and a malecot comprising an annular structure surrounding and protruding from the first conduit; and

a second conduit connected to the first conduit.

23. The stent of claim 22 wherein the second conduit defines a lumen and wherein the second conduit comprises a malecot comprising at least two members having at least one slit therebetween, the at least one slit in fluid communication with the lumen.

24. The stent of claim 22 wherein the connection comprises a connector suture.