Ureter correcting device

• US 5,078,684 A
• Filed: 01/26/1990
• Issued: 01/07/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Yasuda, Kenichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Stephen C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lewis, Ralph A.
• Application Number:
  US07/459,827
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 604/95, 604/264, 604/280, 604/281, 128/657, 128/772
• US Class Current: 604/95.05
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/94 Stents retaining their form, i.e. not being deformable, after placement in the predetermined place
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0033 electrically, e.g. heated by resistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2400/16 Materials with shape-memory or superelastic properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/00 Materials for grafts or prostheses or for coating grafts or prostheses dental prostheses A61C13/00; shape or structure of prostheses A61F2/00; use of preparations for artificial teeth A61K6/80; artificial kidneys A61M1/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 29/02 Inorganic materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 29/14 Materials characterised by their function or physical properties , e.g. lubricating compositions
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/00 Materials for other surgical articles , e.g. stents, stent-grafts, shunts, surgical drapes, guide wires, materials for adhesion prevention, occluding devices, surgical gloves, tissue fixation devices shape or structure of stent-grafts A61F2/07, of stents A61F2/82, of surgical gloves A61B42/00, of surgical drapes A61B46/00, of occluding devices A61B17/12022
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/022 Metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/14 Materials characterised by their function or physical properties , e.g. injectable or lubricating compositions, shape-memory materials, surface modified materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/008 pre-shaped, for use in the urethral or ureteral tract

Abstract

A ureter correcting device for correcting meandering of a ureter and maintaining a desired shape of the ureter is disclosed. The correcting device is formed by embedding a shape memory alloy member, e.g. a shape memory alloy or resin in a catheter consisting of a rod-like elastic body such as silicone rubber along its longitudinal direction. The catheter further includes warming means for warming the shape memory member. A temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the shape memory member may be embedded in the catheter as needed. A hollow portion may be formed in the catheter to facilitate bending of the catheter, or side holes or recesses may be formed in the distal end portion of the catheter so as to allow especially the distal end portion to be easily bent.

Claims

1. A ureter correcting device which is adapted to be inserted in a ureter of a living body to correct meandering of the ureter, which comprises:

a catheter comprising a rod-like elastic body having a peripheral wall and a hollow portion longitudinally extending along the length thereof, said hollow portion being formed eccentrically with respect to a central axis of said rod-like elastic body to thereby form a thicker side and a thinner side in said peripheral wall of said rod-like elastic body;

a shape memory member embedded in said thicker side of said peripheral wall of said rod-like elastic body and longitudinally extending along the length thereof, said shape memory member being capable of being restored to a memorized shape when heated to a temperature within a predetermined temperature range, said memorized shape being such that said memory shape member is generally straightened except for a distal end portion thereof which is curled towards said thinner side of said peripheral wall of said rod-like elastic body;

power supply means electrically connected to said shape memory member for heating said shape memory member to within said predetermined temperature range to cause said shape memory member to assume its memorized shape; and

a temperature sensor embedded in said thicker side of said peripheral wall of said rod-like elastic body for detecting a temperature of said shape memory member.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of side holes are formed in said thinner side of said peripheral wall at a distal end portion of said rod-like elastic body.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherin said shape memory member comprises a shape memory alloy.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said temperature sensor is coupled to said power supply means to control the temperature of said shape memory member.