Interfacial stent and method of maintaining patency of surgical fenestrations
First Claim
1. A method for maintaining patency of an opening inside the human body, comprising:
- introducing a radially self-expanding hollow stent into the opening through an endoscope that radially compresses the stent, wherein the stent has enlarged ends and an intermediate portion having a reduced cross-sectional profile, and the stent is introduced into the opening with its intermediate portion extending through the opening and the enlarged ends positioned outside of the opening; and
allowing the self-expanding stent to expand for retention within the opening by the enlarged ends on opposing faces of the opening.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method according to one embodiment for maintaining patency of an opening inside the human body comprises introducing a radially self-expanding hollow stent into the opening through an endoscope that radially compresses the stent, wherein the stent has enlarged ends and a reduced intermediate portion. The stent is introduced into the opening such that its intermediate portion extends through the opening and the enlarged ends are positioned outside of the opening. Once deployed, the stent expands such that the enlarged ends of the stent abut against opposing faces of the opening to resist dislodgement of the stent from the opening after expansion. The stent is preferably biodegradable, such that it is eliminated from the surgical site over a period of weeks to months, by which time the patency of the opening is more assured. The method can be used in combination with, for example, an endoscopic surgical method such as endoscopic third ventriculostomy for treating hydrocephalus of a brain.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A method for maintaining patency of an opening inside the human body, comprising:
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introducing a radially self-expanding hollow stent into the opening through an endoscope that radially compresses the stent, wherein the stent has enlarged ends and an intermediate portion having a reduced cross-sectional profile, and the stent is introduced into the opening with its intermediate portion extending through the opening and the enlarged ends positioned outside of the opening; and
allowing the self-expanding stent to expand for retention within the opening by the enlarged ends on opposing faces of the opening. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An endoscopic surgical method for treating hydrocephalus of a brain, comprising:
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introducing an endoscope into the third ventricle of the brain;
fenestrating the floor of the third ventricle to create an opening fluidly communicating between the third ventricle and a subarachnoid space;
enlarging the opening;
placing a stent into the opening; and
retrieving from the opening any surgical instrument used for placing the stent into the opening to leave the stent in the opening to maintain the patency of the opening. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A stent for maintaining patency of an opening at an interface in a human body, the stent comprising:
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two enlarged ends; and
an intermediate portion defining a cross-sectional profile that is smaller than that of the enlarged ends;
wherein the stent is biodegradable and expandable;
wherein the stent comprises a substantially hollow body defined by an open surface structure which allows flow of a body fluid through the stent. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. An artificial fluid pathway created in a membrane in a biological body such as a human body to facilitate fluidic communication, comprising:
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an artificially created opening in the membrane; and
a hollow stent situated in the opening, wherein the stent has enlarged ends and a constricted intermediate portion, the intermediate portion extending through the opening and the enlarged ends being positioned outside of the opening, and wherein the stent is capable of maintaining the patency of the opening for an extended period of time without support of an additional surgical member.
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Specification