# US 11,439,493 B2 · Convertible nephroureteral catheter

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- Number: US 11,439,493 B2
- Document ID: US11439493B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/958,406
- Filed: 2018-04-20
- Published: 2018-08-23
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2008-09-15
- Assignees: Merit Medical Systems, Inc.
- Applicants: Merit Medical Systems, Inc.
- Inventors: Harry R. Smouse; Timothy H. Williams
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11439493B2

## CPC

- A61F 2/04: Hollow or tubular parts of organs, e.g. bladders, tracheae, bronchi or bile ducts (A61F2/18, A61F2/20 take precedence; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95)
- A61F 2/82: Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents (stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07)
- A61F 2/95: Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
- A61M 27/008: {pre-shaped, for use in the urethral or ureteral tract}
- A61F 2002/048: {Ureters}
- A61M 2025/0293: {Catheter, guide wire or the like with means for holding, centering, anchoring or frictionally engaging the device within an artificial lumen, e.g. tube}
- A61M 2027/004: {with at least a part of the circuit outside the body}
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)
- 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 nephroureteral catheter is provided that comprises a detachable portion such that when the detachable portion is removed, the catheter converts into an internal stent. The catheter includes a tube with two retention features, a detachable portion, and an inner tube. The inner tube is removably insertable into both the tube and the detachable portion, and a wire extends through at least a portion of a lumen of the inner tube and through the tube, to keep the pieces attached. The wire may be removed to remove the inner tube and then the detachable portion from the tube. When the detachable portion is attached to the tube, the catheter is a nephroureteral catheter. When the detachable portion is removed from the tube, the catheter becomes a stent.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for converting a catheter into a stent comprising:
providing a catheter having a tube comprising a distal end, a proximal end, a first retention feature near the distal end and a second retention feature near the proximal end, and a detachable portion comprising a distal end and a proximal end,
wherein the detachable portion is in fluid communication with and is removably attachable to the tube, the distal end of the detachable portion being removably attachable to the proximal end of the tube, the distal end of the detachable portion having an outer diameter that is substantially the same as an outer diameter of the proximal end of the tube, and wherein the tube and the detachable portion together form a convertible catheter;
percutaneously implanting the convertible catheter into a first bodily cavity so that the first retention feature is curled and disposed in a second bodily cavity, the second retention feature is curled and disposed in the first bodily cavity, and the detachable portion extends external to a patient, wherein the first retention feature and second retention feature are each curled while the detachable portion is coupled to the tube;
proximally pulling a string releasably coupled to the tube adjacent the second retention feature to curl the second retention feature;
allowing fluid to drain through the implanted convertible catheter;
removing the detachable portion from the catheter to convert the catheter into an internal stent,
wherein an inner tube extends through at least a portion of both the tube and the detachable portion and comprises at least one lumen,
wherein a wire extends through at least a portion of the at least one lumen and couples the detachable portion to the tube via an extension extending through a wall of the tube, and
wherein removing the detachable portion from the catheter to convert the catheter into the internal stent comprises proximally retracting the wire to disconnect the detachable portion from the tube; and
retaining the internal stent in the first bodily cavity and the second bodily cavity.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
providing a locking mechanism at the proximal end of the detachable portion, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to open and close; and
closing the locking mechanism to prevent access to an interior of the detachable portion.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
positioning the catheter in the patient by creating an incision in the patient at a surgical site and inserting the catheter through the incision.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the surgical site is a flank of the patient to access one or more of the first or second bodily cavities via the flank.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, further comprising:
attaching the catheter to tubing exterior to the patient.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein removing the detachable portion comprises removing the detachable portion from the patient.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the method is used to provide or monitor treatment for a disorder of one or more of the first or second bodily cavities.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the convertible catheter is percutaneously implanted into the first bodily cavity so that at least a portion of the detachable portion is within the patient, and wherein removing the detachable portion from the catheter comprises withdrawing the detachable portion from the patient.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the implanted convertible catheter is retained in the second bodily cavity for 7-10 days prior to removing the detachable portion from the catheter to convert the catheter into the internal stent.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first bodily cavity is a kidney.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the second bodily cavity is a bladder, and wherein the convertible catheter comprises a nephroureteral catheter.

### Claim 12

A method for converting a catheter into a stent comprising:
providing a catheter having a tube comprising a distal end, a proximal end, a first retention feature near the distal end and a second retention feature near the proximal end, and a detachable portion,
wherein the detachable portion is in fluid communication with and is removably attachable to the tube at a junction, wherein an outer diameter of the detachable portion and an outer diameter of the tube at the junction are substantially the same, and wherein the tube and the detachable portion together form a convertible catheter;
percutaneously implanting the convertible catheter into a first bodily cavity so that the first retention feature is curled and disposed in a second bodily cavity, the second retention feature is curled and disposed in the first bodily cavity, and the detachable portion extends external to a patient, wherein the first retention feature and second retention feature are each curled while the detachable portion is coupled to the tube;
proximally pulling a string releasably coupled to the tube adjacent the second retention feature to curl the second retention feature;
allowing fluid to drain through the implanted convertible catheter;
removing the detachable portion from the catheter to convert the catheter into an internal stent,
wherein an inner tube extends through at least a portion of both the tube and the detachable portion and comprises at least one lumen,
wherein a wire extends through at least a portion of the at least one lumen and couples the detachable portion to the tube via an extension extending through a wall of the tube, and
wherein removing the detachable portion from the catheter to convert the catheter into the internal stent comprises proximally retracting the wire to disconnect the detachable portion from the tube; and
retaining the internal stent in the first bodily cavity and the second bodily cavity.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising:
providing a locking mechanism at a first end of the detachable portion, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to open and close; and
closing the locking mechanism to prevent access to an interior of the detachable portion.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising:
positioning the catheter in the patient by creating an incision in the patient at a surgical site and inserting the catheter through the incision.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the surgical site is a flank of the patient to access one or more of the first or second bodily cavities via the flank.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, further comprising:
attaching the catheter to tubing exterior to the patient.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein removing the detachable portion comprises removing the detachable portion from the patient.

### Claim 18 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the convertible catheter is percutaneously implanted into the first bodily cavity so that at least a portion of the detachable portion is within the patient, and wherein removing the detachable portion from the catheter comprises withdrawing the detachable portion from the patient.