Helical hollow strand ureteral stent

A method for placing a ureteral stent, comprising:

• providing a ureteral stent, the stent comprising a body extending between a distal end and a proximal end, the body defined by a plurality of elongated members, each elongated member extending between a distal end that is coterminous with the distal end of the body and a proximal end that is coterminous with the proximal end of the body, wherein each of the plurality of elongated members are arranged so as to define a lumen extending along the length of the plurality of elongated members, the lumen extending between the distal and proximal ends of the body so as to form a lumen length, wherein each of the plurality of elongated members are attached to adjacent elongated members at the distal end and proximal end forming continuous gaps between adjacent elongated members to permit drainage of a fluid from within the lumen through the gaps to an environment external the stent along the entire lumen length, wherein each of the plurality of elongated members are arranged so as to define a fixed outside diameter of the body;
• and
• advancing the ureteral stent into a ureter of a patient until the ureteral stent is positioned within the ureter,
• wherein the plurality of elongated members comprise a first plurality of elongated members and a second plurality of elongated members, wherein the first plurality of elongated members form an inner layer of the body to define the lumen, and the second plurality of elongated members form an outer layer of the body that surrounds the inner layer and each of the plurality of elongated members extend in a helical pattern to define a surface of the body and the lumen;
• the first plurality of elongated members extend around and along the lumen in a clockwise helical pattern;
• and
• the second plurality of elongated members extend around and along the lumen in a counterclockwise helical pattern.