Pull-through medical device

摘要

A ureteral stent assembly includes a ureteral stent having a distal end portion, a proximal end portion, and a medial end portion. The ureteral stent assembly also includes an elongate positioner for positioning the ureteral stent within the body of the patient. The positioner includes a distal end portion, a proximal end portion, and a medial end portion. A coupling mechanism configured to removably or releasably couple the ureteral stent to the elongate positioner is located on at least one of the distal end portion of the ureteral stent, the medial portion of the ureteral stent, the distal end portion of the positioner, and the medial portion of the positioner. In one embodiment, the ureteral stent includes a lumen that is configured to receive the positioner, and the positioner includes a lumen that is configured to receive a guidewire. In such an embodiment, the guidewire is configured such that when the positioner is disposed within the lumen of the ureteral stent and the guidewire is disposed within the lumen of the positioner, the coupling mechanism is actuated to removably or releasably couple the positioner to the ureteral stent. In one embodiment, the coupling mechanism is a two portion coupling mechanism. In such an embodiment, one portion of the coupling mechanism is located on each of the ureteral stent and the elongate positioner.

主权项

1. A ureteral stent assembly comprising:
a ureteral stent having a distal end portion for placement in a kidney of a patient, a proximal end portion opposite the distal end portion, and a medial portion located between the distal end portion and the proximal end portion, the ureteral stent having a sidewall, the sidewall having an inner surface and outer surface, the inner surface of the sidewall defining a lumen between the distal end portion of the ureteral stent and the proximal end portion of the ureteral stent, the sidewall on the distal end portion of the ureteral stent defining an opening that extends from the inner surface to the outer surface, the opening defining a first portion of a coupling mechanism, the proximal end portion being configured to be placed in at least one of a ureter of the patient, a bladder of the patient, and outside of a body of the patient, the distal end portion of the ureteral stent having a retention member, the retention member having a first configuration and a second configuration, the retention member being non-linear and configured to help retain the distal end portion of the ureteral stent in place within the kidney of the patient when the retention member is in the second configuration; an elongate positioner for positioning the ureteral stent in the ureter, the elongate positioner having a distal end portion for insertion into at least one of the kidney of the patient and the ureter of the patient, a proximal end portion for placement outside of the body of the patient, and a medial portion located between the distal end portion of the elongate positioner and the proximal end portion of the elongate positioner, the distal end portion of the elongate positioner having a second portion of the coupling mechanism coupled to the first portion of the coupling mechanism when the elongate positioner is in a first position, at least a portion of the elongate positioner being disposed within the lumen of the ureteral stent when in the first position, the second portion of the coupling mechanism at least partially extending into the opening from the inner surface of the sidewall of the ureteral stent when in the first position, the second portion of the coupling mechanism being disposed within the lumen defined by the ureteral stent and uncoupled from the first portion of the coupling mechanism when the elongate positioner is in a second position, the elongate positioner includes a lumen; and a guidewire for insertion into the lumen of the elongate positioner, the coupling mechanism being configured such that the elongate positioner and the ureteral stent are coupled together in response to the guidewire being inserted into the lumen of the elongate positioner and advanced distally within the lumen of the ureteral stent, the coupling mechanism being configured such that the elongate positioner and the ureteral stent are decoupled in response to the guidewire being removed from the lumen of the elongate positioner by proximal advancement from inside the lumen of the ureteral stent.