Ureteral stent kit

• US 4,713,049 A
• Filed: 08/05/1986
• Issued: 12/15/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cabot Corporation
• Original Assignee: Medical Engineering Corporation
• Inventors: Carter, Garry L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Truluck, Dalton L.
• Application Number:
  US06/893,381
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 604/95, 604/8-10, 604/170, 604/281, 128/657-658, 128/341, 128/348.1, 128/772
• US Class Current: 604/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09025 with sliding mandrils
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/008 pre-shaped, for use in the urethral or ureteral tract

Abstract

A ureteral stent kit for inserting a ureteral stent and bypassing obstructions in the ureter comprises an elongated, flexible tubular stent which has a lumen and at least one end set in the form of a hook, a removable tubular guide member sized to fit in the lumen in the stent and having a flexible forgiving tip and a relatively stiff, removable core which is sized to fit within the lumen of guide member and to support the forgiving tip.

Claims

1. A ureteral stent kit comprises an elongated flexible tubular stent of substantially uniform outside surface throughout its length having at least one end which is set in the form of a hook, said stent having a lumen;

a flexible, reinforced guide member having a relatively more flexible, unreinforced tip portion and a lumen, said member being sized to fit within the lumen of the stent; and

, a removable, relatively rigid, elongated core means for the guide member, said core means being sized to freely move within the lumen of said guide member.

2. A kit for bypassing obstructions in the ureter with a ureteral stent, said kit comprising:

(a) a ureteral stent comprising an elongated, relatively flexible, tubular member having at least one drainage opening extending through a wall thereof, said member having a lumen and at least one end set in the form of a hook;

(b) a relatively flexible, reinforced tubular guide member, said guide member being sized to fit and move within the lumen of said stent and having a central lumen and a more flexible, unreinforced proximal end; and

,

(c) a relatively rigid, elongated core means for the guide member, said core means being sized to both fit within and move freely in the lumen of said guide member so that when the guide member and core means are within the lumen of the stent they can be advanced to straighten both hooks and if an obstruction in the ureter is encountered the core means can be partially withdrawn so that the proximal end of the stent is solely supported by the flexible, unreinforced proximal end of the guide member and can be maneuvered past the obstruction.

3. A method for inserting a ureteral stent in the ureter and for maneuvering the stent past any obstructions in the ureter which might be encountered, said method comprising:

(a) introducing into the ureter a ureteral stent comprising an elongated, flexible, tubular member having a lumen, said member having at least one drainage passage extending through a wall thereof connecting the lumen to the outside and at least one end set in the form of a hook;

said stent having in the lumen thereof a guide system comprising a tubular, flexible, reinforced guide member having a more flexible, unreinforced end and a lumen; and

a relatively rigid, elongated core means for the guide member which is sized to fit within the move in the lumen of the guide member, said core means straightening said hook;

(b) advancing said stent and guide system until an obstruction in the ureter is encountered and then partially retracting said core means from within the guide member so that the proximal end of the stent is supported solely by the unreinforced end of the guide member; and

,

(c) maneuvering the proximal end of the stent and the unreinforced end of the guide member past the obstruction.

4. A guide system for inserting a ureteral stent into a patient, said guide system comprising a relatively flexible, elongated, tubular guide member of generally uniform diameter having a lumen and being reinforced except for a minor unreinforced portion at the proximal end, and a closed proximal tip;

and, an elongated relatively rigid core means, said core means being sized to fit in and move freely the entire length of the lumen of said guide member including the unreinforced portion so that the core means can be withdrawn if desired so that the relatively more flexible unreinforced portion of the proximal end of said guide member is unsupported by the core means and it can be maneuvered about an obstruction that might be encountered.