Drainage devices and methods

A ureteral drainage stent is designed to be placed in a patient's ureter and extend into a patient's bladder. An elongated tubular segment includes a distal retention structure for placement in the renal cavity, and a proximal retention structure constructed at least partly from a foam material and for placement in a urinary bladder. A central lumen connects at least one opening in the distal retention structure to the foam proximal retention structure. The foam proximal retention structure typically extends along at least a lower part of the ureter, across the ureteral-vesical junction, and into the bladder, to provide drainage through multiple networked channels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. Also, the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.

FIGS. 1A and 1B depict an embodiment of a ureteral stent of the invention, with FIG. 1A showing the device positioned in a ureter with a distal region in a kidney and a proximal region in a ureteral-vesical junction and bladder, and FIG. 1B showing the device outside of the body.

FIGS. 2A-D depict an embodiment of a proximal region of a ureteral stent of the invention in longitudinal cross-section in different configurations within the ureter and urinary bladder. FIG. 2A depicting a proximal retention structure distant from the ureteral-vesical junction, and FIG. 2B depicting the proximal retention structure flushed with the ureteral-vesical junction. FIGS. 2C and 2D depicts the cross-sectional structure of reticulated and open-cell foam, respectively, that forms the foam segment and proximal retention structure.

FIGS. 3A-D depict various embodiments of a proximal region of the ureteral stent of the invention in longitudinal cross-section.

FIGS. 4A and 4B depicts other embodiments of a proximal region of a ureteral stent in longitudinal cross-section positioned in the ureter and urinary bladder.

FIGS. 5A-D depict various steps involving a guide wire, a pusher and a ureteral stent in longitudinal cross-section positioned in the ureter and urinary bladder, as occurs during installation of the stent.

1. A ureteral stent comprising:

2. The ureteral stent of claim 1, wherein the foam segment comprises a proximal retention structure.

3. The ureteral stent of claim 1, wherein the foam segment is attached to an outer surface of a proximal end of the elongated member.

4. The ureteral stent of claim 1, wherein the foam segment comprises at least one of an open-cell foam, a reticulated foam, or a closed-cell foam.

5. The ureteral stent of claim 1, wherein the foam segment comprises reticulated foam.

6. The ureteral stent of claim 1, wherein the foam segment comprises a closed-cell foam.

7. The ureteral stent of claim 2, wherein an outer dimension of the proximal retention structure substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the elongated member is larger than the diameter of the elongated member.

8. The ureteral stent of claim 2, wherein the proximal retention structure comprises at least one of a funnel shape, a conical shape, or a spherical shape.

9. The ureteral stent of claim 2, wherein the proximal retention structure comprises a conical shape.

10. The ureteral stent of claim 2, wherein the proximal retention structure comprises a spherical shape.

11. The ureteral stent of claim 1, wherein an outer dimension of the distal retention structure substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the elongated member is larger than the diameter of the elongated member.

12. The ureteral stent of claim 1, wherein the foam segment further comprises a coaxial member defining a lumen extending therethrough, the coaxial member fixed within the foam segment.

13. The ureteral stent of claim 1, wherein the foam segment defines a lumen extending therethrough.

14. A method for draining urine from a kidney, the method comprising the steps of:

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of positioning at least a portion of the distal retention structure within a kidney.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the foam segment comprises a proximal retention structure.

17. A method of positioning a ureteral stent within a patient, comprising the steps of:

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of inserting the guide wire within a urinary tract.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of positioning the distal retention structure within a kidney.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the foam segment comprises a proximal retention structure and further comprising the step of positioning the proximal retention structure in a urinary bladder.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein mounting the stent over a guide wire comprises inserting the guide wire within a lumen of the elongated member.