Endourethral device and method

• US 6,991,596 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2002
• Issued: 01/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SRS Medical Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: AbbeyMoor Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Willard, Lloyd K., Reid, John M., Whalen, Mark J., Baumgartner, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilbert, Samuel G.
• Application Number:
  US10/274,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20030078467A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: 600 29- 31, 600/561, 600/435, 600568-589, 600/591, 600/433, 600/434, 600/482, 600/483, 600/485, 600/486, 600/505, 600/507, 600/560, 128/885, 128/886, 128/DIG.25, 606/192, 606/193, 606/327, 606/329, 604/915, 604/919, 604/920, 604/327, 604/329
• US Class Current: 600/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0175 having telescopic features, interengaging nestable members movable in relations to one another
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0017 specially adapted for long-term hygiene care, e.g. urethral or indwelling catheters to prevent infections
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0068 Static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0074 Dynamic characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. openable, closable, expandable or deformable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/02 Holding devices, e.g. on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10 Balloon catheters A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02; inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 ; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00

Abstract

An endourethral device including proximal and distal anchor assemblies selectively spaced apart by a device body is provided. The proximal anchor assembly is adapted to abuttingly engage at least portions of a bladder neck so as to at least proximally anchor said device, the distal anchor assembly being adapted to engage at least portions of a bulbous urethra so as to at least distally anchor said device. The body extends between the proximal and distal anchors assemblies, the device being adapted such that the anchors are selectively spaced apart for fixed positioning within a lower urinary tract in furtherance of a portion of the body at least partially traversing a prostatic urethra.

Claims

1. An endourethral device comprising:

a. a proximal anchor structure adapted to abuttingly engage at least portions of a bladder neck so as to at least proximally anchor said device;

b. a distal anchor structure adapted to engage at least portions of a bulbous urethra so as to at least distally anchor said device; and

,

c. a variably dimensionable body extending between said proximal and said distal anchors, said body comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, at least a segment of one of said portions being receivable within the other of said portions, one of said body portions including a single aperture pair registerable with spaced apart aperture pairs of the other of said body portions for fixed positioning within a lower urinary tract in furtherance of a portion of said body at least partially traversing a prostatic urethra.

2. The endourethral device of claim 1 wherein said distal anchor structure is spaced apart from said distal body portion by about 2–

4 cm via a linkage.

3. An endourethral device comprising:

a. a proximal anchor structure adapted to abuttingly engage at least portions of a bladder neck so as to at least proximally anchor said device;

b. a distal anchor structure adapted to engage at least portions of a bulbous urethra so as to at least distally anchor said device;

c. a variably dimensionable body extending between said proximal and said distal anchors, said body comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, at least a segment of one of said portions being receivable within the other of said portions, said body portions being selectively securable to each other, one of said body portions being threadingly received upon a portion of the other of said body portions; and

,

d. means for reversibly securing said proximal and said distal body portions, said device being adapted such that said anchors are selectively spaced apart for fixed positioning within a lower urinary tract in furtherance of a portion of said body at least partially traversing a prostatic urethra.

4. The endourethral device of claim 3 wherein one of said body portions includes a single aperture pair registerable with spaced apart aperture pairs of the other of said body portions.

5. The endourethral device of claim 3 wherein said distal anchor structure is spaced apart from said distal body portion by about 2–

4 cm via a linkage.

6. An endourethral device comprising:

a. a proximal anchor structure adapted to abuttingly engage at least portions of a bladder neck so as to at least proximally anchor said device;

b. a distal anchor structure adapted to engage at least portions of a bulbous urethra so as to at least distally anchor said device;

c. a variably dimensionable, longitudinally compressible body extending between said proximal and said distal anchors, said body comprising a coil spring; and

,

d. a spring clip, said spring clip retaining a plurality of select coils of said coil spring between opposing ends thereof such that said anchors are selectively spaced apart for fixed positioning within a lower urinary tract in furtherance of a portion of said body at least partially traversing a prostatic urethra.

7. An endourethral device comprising:

a. a proximal anchor structure adapted to abuttingly engage at least portions of a bladder neck so as to at least proximally anchor said device;

b. a distal anchor structure adapted to engage at least portions of a bulbous urethra so as to at least distally anchor said device; and

,

c. a body extending between said proximal and said distal anchors, said body being reversibly detachable from said anchors, variably dimensioned bodies being readily substituted therefore, said device being adapted such that said anchors are selectively spaced apart for fixed positioning within a lower urinary tract in furtherance of a portion of said body at least partially traversing a prostatic urethra.

8. An endourethral device comprising an anchor for securing a proximal portion of said device at a bladder neck, a coil extending from said anchor, and means for selectively retaining said coil in a less than fully extended condition, at least a portion of said coil traversing a prostatic urethra.

9. An endourethral device comprising a proximal anchor structure adapted to abuttingly engage at least portions of a bladder neck so as to at least proximally anchor said device, a selectively dimensionable body extending from said proximal anchor, and a distal anchor structure tethered to said body for engagement with a bulbous urethra.

10. The endourethral device of claim 9 wherein said body is longitudinally compactable.

11. The endourethral device of claim 10 wherein said body includes proximal and distal portions.

12. The endourethral device of claim 11 wherein said portions of said body are adapted for cooperative engagement.

13. The endourethral device of claim 11 wherein said portions of said body are selectively securable to each other.

14. The endourethral device of claim 9 wherein said distal anchor structure is spaced apart from said body by about 2–

4 cm via a linkage.

15. An endourethral device comprising:

a. a proximal anchor structure adapted to abuttingly engage at least portions of a bladder neck so as to at least proximally anchor said device;

b. a distal anchor structure adapted to engage at least portions of a bulbous urethra so as to at least distally anchor said device; and

,

c. a selectively dimensionable body for fixed extension between said proximal and said distal anchors, said body including a segment adapted to permit physiological external sphincter function, said distal anchor structure being spaced apart from said body by about 2–

4 cm via a linkage.