Ureteral stent with conforming retention structure

#The disclosed invention relates generally to a medical device and more particularly to a ureteral stent having a conforming retention structure to provide improved patient comfort.

#Known ureteral stents are typically placed within a urinary tract of a patient such that one end portion of the ureteral stent is located in either a kidney or a ureter of the patient and another end portion of the ureteral stent is located in a bladder of the patient. Some known ureteral stents include retention members configured to help retain the ureteral stent in position within the patient. Known ureteral stents are typically positioned within the urinary tract of the patient by placing a guidewire within the patient, sliding the ureteral stent on the guidewire, and then forcing the ureteral stent along the guidewire into a desired position within the patient using a push cannula. Such ureteral stents are often removed from the patient by pulling the ureteral stent from the urinary tract of the patient.

#Known ureteral stents often cause discomfort to the patient once the ureteral stents are positioned within the body due to the size and mass of the retention members. For example, some ureteral stents include a curled end portion that may be positioned in a bladder of a patient to help retain the ureteral stent in place within the patient. The large mass of the curled retention structure does not easily conform to the bladder when the bladder is emptied or collapsed, resulting in patient discomfort. Further discomfort can also result when the ureteral stent is removed from a patient due to the configuration of the retention member.

#The present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. For example item 100 is identical or functionally similar to item 100A.

#FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a ureteral stent according to an embodiment of the invention.

#FIG. 2A is side view of a ureteral stent according to an embodiment of the invention shown positioned in a kidney, ureter and bladder of a patient.

#FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a ureteral stent 100 disposed within a urinary tract of a patient. Specifically, the ureteral stent 100 is placed or otherwise implanted into the urinary tract of a patient such that the ureteral stent 100 extends through the ureter U, from the kidney K of the patient to the bladder B of the patient. The ureteral stent 100 is configured to help facilitate the movement of fluid within a urinary tract of a patient.

#The ureteral stent 100 includes an elongate member 102 having a distal end portion 104, a proximal end portion 106, and a medial portion 108. A retention portion 110 extends from the proximal end portion 106 of the elongate member 102. Similarly, a retention portion 112 extends from the distal end portion 104 of the elongate member 102. The elongate member 102 defines an axis A and a lumen (not shown in FIG. 1). The lumen may extend from the distal end portion 104 to the proximal end portion 106 of the elongate member 102. The elongate member 102 further defines an opening (not shown in FIG. 1) on the proximal end portion of the elongate member 102 that communicates with the lumen. In other embodiments, the lumen may not extend from the distal end portion 104 to the proximal end portion 106. Rather, the lumen may only extend through a portion of the elongate member 102. In yet another embodiment, the elongate member 102 does not include an opening on the proximal end portion that communicates with the lumen.

#The retention portion 112 extends from the distal end portion 104 of the elongate member 102 and is configured to be placed in the kidney K of the patient. The retention portion 112 is configured to help prevent migration of the ureteral stent 100 downwardly toward the bladder B. Accordingly, the retention member 112 is configured to help retain at least a portion of the ureteral stent 100 within the kidney K of the patient. Retention portion 112 may be configured in a variety of different shapes and sizes. For example, the retention portion 112 may include a coil portion or a loop portion.