Stent improvements
First Claim
1. A stent comprising:
- an elongated tubular member having a body portion, a proximate end portion and a distal end portion, the tubular member having a wall and an axial lumen therein having a lumen surface; and
a reinforcement structure extending at least a portion of a length of the body portion adjacent the distal end portion.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In accordance with the invention, there are provided medical devices for providing a fluid passage between two areas in the body. An embodiment of the present invention relates to a stent comprising a tubular member at least a portion of which comprises a reinforcement structure. The tubular member includes a wall and an axial lumen therein having a lumen surface. The reinforcement structure extends at least a portion of a length of the body portion adjacent the distal end portion. One advantage of this embodiment of the invention is, for example, that the reinforcement structure increases patient comfort by providing enhanced flexibility. A second advantage of this embodiment of the invention is, for example, that the reinforcement structure improves axial stiffness and radial stiffness allowing for a thinner tubular member wall thickness and larger lumen diameter.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A stent comprising:
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an elongated tubular member having a body portion, a proximate end portion and a distal end portion, the tubular member having a wall and an axial lumen therein having a lumen surface; and
a reinforcement structure extending at least a portion of a length of the body portion adjacent the distal end portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A ureteral stent for maintaining drainage between the kidney and bladder comprising:
an elongated flexible tubular member having proximal end portion and a distal end portion coupled by a body portion having an axis including a central lumen to provide fluid communication between the proximal end portion and distal end portion, the proximal end portion adapted for placement in the bladder, the distal end portion including retention means adapted for retaining the distal end portion in the kidney, at least a portion of the body portion comprising a reinforcement structure extending at least a portion of a length of the body portion adjacent the distal end portion. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for placing a stent comprising:
inserting a body portion into a ureter, a distal end portion into a kidney and a proximal end portion into a bladder, the stent comprising;
an elongated flexible tubular member having proximal end portion and a distal end portion coupled by a body portion having an axis including a central lumen to provide fluid communication between the proximal end portion and distal end portion, the proximal end portion adapted for placement in the bladder, the distal end portion including retention means adapted for retaining the distal end portion in the kidney, at least a portion of the body portion comprising a reinforcement structure extending at least a portion of a length of the body portion adjacent the distal end portion. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
Specification