# US 10,307,177 B2 · Device for removing kidney stones > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,307,177 B2 - Document ID: US10307177B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/977,087 - Filed: 2015-12-21 - Published: 2016-04-21 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2013-04-16 - Assignees: Calcula Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Calcula Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Raymond Arthur Bonneau; David Gal; David Wellman Snow - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307177B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/221: Gripping devices in the form of loops or baskets {for gripping calculi or similar types of obstructions (surgical snare instruments A61B17/32056)} - A61B 34/20: Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis - A61B 90/37: {Surgical systems with images on a monitor during operation} - A61B 17/22032: {having inflatable gripping elements (balloon catheters A61M25/10)} - A61B 2017/2212: {having a closed distal end, e.g. a loop} - A61B 2017/2215: {having an open distal end} - A61B 2017/320064: {with tissue or sample retaining means} - A61B 2090/3614: {using optical fibre} - A61M 2025/109: {having balloons for removing solid matters, e.g. by grasping or scraping plaque, thrombus or other matters that obstruct the flow} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract A system for removing a kidney stone from a ureter may include: an elongate, flexible, outer shaft having a distal end configured to be advanced into the ureter and a proximal end; an elongate, flexible, inner shaft extending through at least part of the outer shaft; an expandable stone retention member extending through at least part of the inner shaft and moveable along the longitudinal axis relative to the inner shaft; an elongate, flexible camera positioned coaxially within the retention member shaft, such that a distal end of the camera is located at or near a distal end of the inner shaft; and a handle coupled with the proximal end of the outer shaft, a proximal end of the inner shaft, and a proximal end of the retention member shaft. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for removing a kidney stone from a ureter, the device comprising: a handle, comprising; a retention member slider configured to slide along the handle; and a wall protection slider configured to slide along the handle; an elongate, flexible, outer shaft, having a distal end configured to be advanced into the ureter; a wall protection member shaft coaxially disposed within the outer shaft and having a proximal end attached to the wall protection slider; a compliant ureter wall protection member, having a first end coupled with the distal end of the outer shaft and a second end coupled with a distal end of the wall protection member shaft; an inflation port to pass fluid into the ureter wall protection member via a space between the wall protection member shaft and the outer shaft; an expandable stone retention member disposed coaxially within the wall protection member shaft and comprising: a retention member shaft having a proximal end attached to the retention member slider; and an expandable basket disposed at a distal end of the retention member shaft; and an inner shaft attached to the handle and located between the retention member shaft and the wall protection member shaft, wherein the wall protection member shaft is mobile relative to the outer shaft and is configured to move passively back as the expandable basket holding the kidney stone is pulled into the ureter wall protection member, wherein the retention member shaft and the inner shaft are coupled by friction fit, such that motion of the expandable stone retention member is coupled to the inner shaft when not actively controlled by a user of the device, and wherein the retention member shaft and the inner shaft are de-coupled when the user slides the retention member slider to independently move the retention member shaft. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A device as in claim 1, further comprising an elongate, flexible camera disposed coaxially within the lumen of the retention member shaft, wherein a proximal end of the camera is fixedly attached to the handle, such that the camera does not move relative to the handle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A device as in claim 2, wherein the camera is selected from the group consisting of a fiber optic camera, a CCD image sensor and CMOS device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) A device as in claim 2, wherein the camera is removable from the device and is reusable for multiple kidney stone removal procedures. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) A device as in claim 2, wherein the handle further comprises a camera attachment portion for fixedly attaching a proximal portion of the camera to the handle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) A device as in claim 2, wherein the camera does not move relative to the handle and the inner shaft, such that a distal end of the camera is located at or near a distal end of the inner shaft, and wherein the retention member shaft slides between the inner shaft and the camera. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A device as in claim 1, wherein the ureter wall protection member comprises an inflatable balloon, having a proximal tapered portion, a central portion, and a distal tapered portion, wherein the distal tapered portion is configured to preferentially invaginate without the proximal tapered portion collapsing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A device as in claim 7, wherein the distal tapered portion comprises a distal taper angle that is greater than a proximal taper angle of the proximal tapered portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A device as in claim 8, wherein the proximal taper angle is between 5 degrees and 25 degrees, and wherein the distal taper angle is between 30 degrees and 90 degrees. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) A device as in claim 7, wherein the inflation port is located on the handle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A device as in claim 10, wherein the handle further comprises an irrigation port in fluid communication with a space between the wall protection member shaft and the retention member shaft. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A device as in claim 11, wherein the handle further comprises a suction port on the handle for providing suction force through a suction lumen formed by at least one of the inner shaft or the retention member shaft. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) A device as in claim 7, wherein the balloon is configured to at least partially deflate passively when the stone retention member and a retained stone are moved into the balloon. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A device as in claim 1, wherein the wall protection member shaft is movable along a longitudinal axis relative to the outer shaft, and wherein sliding the wall protection member shaft proximally relative to the outer shaft causes the ureter wall protection member to invaginate. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A device as in claim 1, wherein the handle further comprises at least one irrigation fluid port in fluid communication with a space between the wall protection member shaft and the retention member shaft, wherein the space acts as an irrigation fluid channel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A device as in claim 1, further comprising a handle extension slidably disposed at least partially within a portion of the handle and fixedly coupled with the outer shaft.