Ureteral stent for improved patient comfort

US8246689B2 · kind B2 · utility

Inventors

• John O. McWeeney · Watertown, US
• Willet F. Whitmore, III · Sarasota, US
• Stephanie Rubin · Falls Church, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 2, 2010
• Grant date: Aug 21, 2012
• Expiry date: Jun 6, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61M2210/1082
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A ureteral stent for assisting the movement of urine along a patient's ureter and into the patient's bladder. The stent includes an elongated tubular segment extending toward the bladder from a kidney end region for placement in the renal cavity to a bladder end region. A central lumen connects at least one opening at the first end region to at least one opening in the bladder end region. Thin flexible tail(s) are attached to the bladder end region of the tubular segment at a point outside the bladder so as to receive urine from the opening in the bladder end region of the tubular segment and to transport urine from there across the ureter/bladder junction and into the bladder. The tails include an elongated external urine-transport surface sized and configured to transport urine along the ureter. The urine transporting surface(s) are sized and configured to extend along at least part of the ureter, across the ureter/bladder junction, and from there into the bladder. In some embodiments, the distal region includes a tubular body with a lumen in fluid communication with an interstitial area defined by one or more flexible filaments of the proximal region forming at least one loop.