Pancreatic stent with drainage feature
AssigneeBoston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
InventorsKevin Walsh, Gary Trendel, Paul Mannion
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pancreatic stent includes a main body convertible between a compressed configuration for delivery and an expanded configuration once deployed, the main body including an inner surface defining a stent lumen and an outer surface. A plurality of drainage features are formed within the outer surface of the main body, the plurality of drainage features permitting placement of the pancreatic stent within a patient's pancreas without blocking side branches of the pancreas.
Claims18
A method of draining fluid from a biliary tract, the method comprising:
- inserting an expandable stent into a main pancreatic duct in a first compressed configuration, wherein the stent includes a main body and at least one drainage feature formed on an outer surface of the main body, the drainage feature including a valley defined between adjacent peaks on either side of the valley;
- and
- expanding the stent to a second expanded configuration to permit fluid exiting side branches of the biliary tract to flow along the drainage feature into the main pancreatic duct;
- wherein inserting the expandable stent into the main pancreatic duct includes inserting and expanding the stent such that the stent does not block side branches of the biliary tract that are in fluid communication with the main pancreatic duct.
A method of draining fluid from a biliary tract, the method comprising:
- inserting an expandable stent into a main pancreatic duct adjacent a duodenum with the stent in a first compressed configuration, wherein the stent includes a main body, at least one drainage feature formed on an outer surface of the main body, and a covering disposed on the outer surface of the main body, the drainage feature including a valley defined between adjacent peaks on either side of the valley;
- and
- expanding the stent to a second expanded configuration to permit fluid exiting side branches of the biliary tract to flow along the drainage feature into the main pancreatic duct and the duodenum, wherein the covering expands as the stent expands;
- wherein inserting the expandable stent into the main pancreatic duct includes inserting and expanding the stent such that it does not block side branches of the biliary tract that are in fluid communication with the main pancreatic duct.
A method of draining fluid from a biliary tract, the method comprising:
- inserting an expandable stent into a main pancreatic duct adjacent a duodenum with the stent in a first compressed configuration, wherein the stent includes a main body, at least one drainage feature formed on an outer surface of the main body, and a covering disposed on the outer surface of the main body, the drainage feature including a valley defined between adjacent peaks on either side of the valley;
- and
- expanding the stent to a second expanded configuration to permit fluid exiting side branches of the biliary tract to flow along the drainage feature into the main pancreatic duct and the duodenum, wherein the covering expands as the stent expands;
- wherein the expandable stent includes a braided metal stent forming a high-low pattern in at least some adjoining windings, wherein the high-low pattern defines the valley between adjacent first and second peaks on either side of the valley;
- and
- wherein the drainage feature extends helically at least partially around a circumference of the main body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.