Stent delivery system and method

A method for deploying a stent in a body conduit, comprising the steps of:

• providing the stent with a braided tube, a stent distal portion and a stent proximal portion;
• releasably engaging the stent distal portion with an elongate member;
• and
• advancing the stent distally with the elongate member.

A ureteral stent, comprising:

• an elongate body;
• a distal end of the body biased to a first coiled configuration;
• a proximal end of the body biased to a second coiled configuration;
• an intermediate section of the body disposed between the distal end of the body and the proximal end of the body;
• and
• a guide bushing disposed to extend around the intermediate section of the body.

A surgical combination for stenting a ureter, comprising:

• a guidewire having a distal end, the guidewire being adapted to be positioned in the ureter;
• a stent having a body, a distal anchor, and a radiopaque marker disposed around the body proximally of the distal anchor;
• the marker being sized and configured for distal movement along the guidewire to an operative site;
• and
• a positioner having a tubular configuration and being adapted for distal movement along the guidewire to hold the marker at the operative site when the guidewire is wire is withdrawn from the ureter.

A method for positioning a stent in a ureter of a patient, comprising the steps of:

• providing the stent with a body, a distal end, and a radiopaque marker near the distal end of the stent;
• placing a guidewire in the ureter;
• threading the marker onto the guidewire;
• advancing a positioner along the guidewire to move the marker along the guidewire to an operative site in the ureter;
• and
• removing the guidewire and the positioner from the ureter leaving the stent at the operative site in the ureter.

A method for positioning a stent at an operative site in a body conduit, comprising the steps of:

• providing the stent with a body and a distal end;
• biasing the distal end of the stent to a curved configuration;
• inserting the distal end of the stent into the body conduit;
• moving the stent through the body conduit to the operative site in the body conduit;
• and
• during the inserting step, bending the distal end of the stent along the body of the stent.

A method for placing a stent in the body conduit, comprising the steps of:

• introducing a guidewire in to the body conduit;
• moving an insertion tube over the guidewire;
• releasably attaching the stent to the insertion tube;
• advancing the insertion tube over the guidewire and into the body conduit to position the stent at an operative site in the body conduit;
• releasing the stent from the insertion tube at the operative site;
• withdrawing the insertion tube and the guidewire from the body conduit;
• and
• during the withdrawal step leaving the stent in the body conduit at the operative site.

A combination, including:

• a guidewire;
• a stent having a proximal end and a distal end;
• an insertion tube including a first lumen and a second lumen;
• the first lumen being sized and configured to receive the guidewire;
• and
• the second lumen of the tube being adapted to receive at least a portion of the stent in a releasably locked relationship.