Reinforced retention structures

The medical device of claim I wherein the superelastic material is a wire having a secondary three-dimensional structure.

The medical device of claim I further comprising a second superelastic material within the elongated member.

A medical device, comprising:

• an elongated member comprising a flexible material and defining a lumen extending through the elongated member;
• and ,
• a reinforced malecot retention structure comprising at least two arms, each of the arms comprising an elastic member and the flexible material and formed of the flexible material, the retention structure positioned along a portion of the length of the elongated member, the reinforced retention structure for holding the device in place within the body of a patient.

A medical device comprising:

• an elongated member comprising a flexible material and defining a lumen extending through the elongated member;
• and a reinforced barb retention structure comprising at least one barb extending from the flexible material of the elongated member, the at least one barb comprising an elastic member and the flexible material, the reinforced retention structure for holding the device in place within the body of a patient.

A medical device, comprising:

• an elongated member comprising a flexible material and defining a lumen extending therethrough;
• and
• a reinforced retention structure extending from the elongated member and comprising an elastic member and the flexible material, the reinforced retention structure for holding the device in place within a body of a patient.

A method of placing a medical device within a body of a patient, comprising:

• providing a medical device comprising an elongated member comprising a flexible material defining a lumen extending through the elongated member and a reinforced retention structure extending from the elongated member, the reinforced retention structure comprising a superelastic material and the flexible material, the reinforced retention structure for holding the device in place within the body of the patient;
• and
• inserting the medical device into the body of the patient.

A method of making a medical device comprising:

• extruding an elongated member comprising a flexible material;
• and
• positioning a superelastic material to form a reinforced retention structure comprising the superelastic and flexible materials, thereby making the medical device which comprises the elongated member and the reinforced retention structure.