Stent placement and removal system

摘要

Placement and non-surgical removal of a ureteral stent is accomplished by suspending a ferromagnetic bead from an indwelling stent The bead is suspended by a flaccid tether that reduces the likelihood of patient irritation when a shortened stent is used. The bead, tether, and stent assembly are advanced into the patient as a unit via a conventional cystoscope. A magnet-tipped catheter is employed to engage the bead in the bladder and permit removal of the connected stent as the catheter is withdrawn.