Anti-reflux ureteral stents and methods
AssigneeSciMed Life Systems, Inc.
InventorsJohn O. McWeeney, Michael S. H. Chu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An anti-reflux ureteral stent includes an elongated member with a distal end having a first retention structure and a proximal end having a second retention structure. A lumen extends between the distal and proximal ends. The elongated member may include a valve near the proximal end and distal to the second retention structure. The valve may include one or more slits or windows tending to render the elongated member collapsible. The valve may include one or more protrusions to partially occlude the lumen. A protrusion, if present, may be shaped as a helical thread. The second retention structure may be shaped as a barb to engage a ureteral orifice in a bladder.
Claims29
A ureteral stent comprising:
- an elongated member having a distal end comprising a first retention structure and a proximal end comprising a second retention structure and defining a lumen extending therebetween,
- the elongated member comprising a valve distal to the second retention structure.
A ureteral stent comprising:
- an elongated member having a distal end comprising a first retention structure and a proximal end comprising a second retention structure, the elongated member having an inner surface defining a lumen between the distal end and the proximal end;
- and
- one or more protrusions extending from the inner surface into the lumen to partially occlude the lumen, wherein the one or more protrusions are shaped and positioned to introduce turbulence into urine flow from the proximal end during voiding of a bladder when the distal end is disposed in a kidney and the proximal end is disposed in the bladder.
A ureteral stent comprising:
- an elongated member having a distal end comprising a first retention structure and a proximal end comprising a second retention structure, the elongated member having an inner surface defining a lumen between the distal end and the proximal end,
- wherein a portion of the inner surface between the distal end and the proximal end comprises a helical thread having a height extending into the lumen.
A method of promoting ureteral urine flow, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a ureteral stent having a distal end comprising a retention structure and a proximal end comprising a barb;
- and
- introducing the ureteral stent into a ureter having a ureteral orifice in a bladder such that the distal end of the ureteral stent is in a kidney and the proximal end is in the bladder, the barb of the proximal end engaging the ureteral orifice of the ureter to prevent distal migration of the ureteral stent out of the bladder.
A method of promoting ureteral urine flow without undue bladder irritation, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a ureteral stent having a distal end comprising a first retention structure and a proximal end comprising a second retention structure;
- and
- introducing the ureteral stent into a ureter such that the distal end of the ureteral stent is in a kidney and the proximal end of the ureteral stent is in a bladder, wherein the proximal end of the ureteral stent extends less than two centimeters into the bladder.
A method of promoting ureteral urine flow without undue intramural tunnel irritation, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a ureteral stent having a distal end comprising a first retention structure, a proximal end comprising a second retention structure, and a compressible portion therebetween;
- and
- introducing the ureteral stent into a ureter.
A method of promoting ureteral urine flow from a kidney to a bladder, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a ureteral stent comprising an elongated member having a distal end comprising a first retention structure and a proximal end comprising a second retention structure, the elongated member having an inner surface defining a lumen between the distal end and the proximal end, the inner surface comprising one or more protrusions extending into and partially occluding the lumen;
- introducing the ureteral stent into a ureter;
- and
- disrupting urine flow from the bladder to the kidney during voiding of the bladder through partial occlusion of the lumen, thereby reducing reflux.
A method of promoting ureteral urine flow from a kidney to a bladder, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a ureteral stent comprising an elongated member having a distal end comprising a first retention structure and a proximal end comprising a second retention structure, the elongated member having an inner surface defining a lumen between the distal end and the proximal end, a portion of the inner surface comprising a helical thread having a height extending into the lumen, and wherein the height of a proximal portion of the helical thread is greater than the height of a distal portion of the helical thread;
- introducing the ureteral stent into a ureter;
- and
- positioning the helical thread to reduce urine flow from the bladder to the kidney during voiding of the bladder, thereby reducing reflux.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.