Methods and apparatus for deploying ureteral stents

Abstract

A ureteral decompression device comprises a guide member and an anchoring structure. The guide member may be introduced through the urethra and bladder into the ureter so that the anchor structure passes a lodged kidney stone. Once past the stone, the anchor structure can be compacted to anchor the guide member in place. The anchor structure will permit leakage and the guide member will provide a leakage path directly past the stone, thus decompressing the kidney.

1 . A device for decompressing a ureteral stone in a ureter, said device comprising:
 a guide member which is advanceable from a ureteral os in a bladder past the ureteral stone in the ureter; and   an anchor disposed near a distal end of the guide member and adapted to compress in situ immediately distal to the stone, wherein the expanded anchor is non-occluding and the guide member creates a leakage path past the stone.   
     
     
         2 . A device as in  claim 1 , wherein the guide member comprises a wire or a tube. 
     
     
         3 . A device as in  claim 2 , wherein the anchor comprises a length of material. 
     
     
         4 . A device as in  claim 3 , wherein the length of material comprises a strip, sleeve, ribbon, or tube. 
     
     
         5 . A device as in  claim 4 , wherein the material is selected from the group consisting of polymer films, woven fabrics, non-woven fabrics, and composites and laminates thereof. 
     
     
         6 . A device as in  claim 4 , wherein the length of material is porous or perforated to promote leakage of urine therethrough when compressed. 
     
     
         7 . A device as in  claim 1 , wherein the guide member comprises a distal section and a detachable proximal section. 
     
     
         8 . A device as in  claim 7 , wherein the distal section has a proximal end which is pre-shaped to form an anchor configuration when the proximal section is detached. 
     
     
         9 . A device for decompressing a ureteral stone in a ureter, said device comprising:
 a guidewire having a distal tip; and   an anchor attached to the guidewire immediately proximal to the distal tip;   wherein the anchor will compact and expand radially outwardly as the anchor is drawn proximally by the guidewire.   
     
     
         10 . A device as in  claim 9 , wherein the guidewire has a length in the range from 100 cm to 200 cm. 
     
     
         11 . A device as in  claim 10 , wherein the guidewire comprises a distal length in the range from 20 cm to 40 cm and a separable proximal length in the range from 80 cm to 160 cm. 
     
     
         12 . A device as in  claim 9 , wherein a proximal end of the distal length of the guidewire is pre-formed to assume a pigtail shape when detached from the distal length of the guidewire. 
     
     
         13 . A device as in  claim 9 , further comprising a retrieval cord attached to the proximal end of the distal length of the guidewire. 
     
     
         14 . A device as in  claim 9 , wherein the anchor comprises a tube, a strip, a sleeve, or a ribbon. 
     
     
         15 . A device as in  claim 14 , wherein the anchor has a length in the range from 2 cm to 8 cm prior to deployment. 
     
     
         16 . A device as in  claim 15 , wherein the anchor comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polymer films, woven fabrics, non-woven fabrics and composite and laminates thereof. 
     
     
         17 . A device as in  claim 15 , wherein the anchor material is porous or perforated to promote leakage of urine therethrough when compressed. 
     
     
         18 . A device as in  claim 9 , wherein the digital end of the guide wire is steerable. 
     
     
         19 . A device as in  claim 9 , wherein the anchor is adapted to permit urine to flow by when the anchor is compressed. 
     
     
         20 . A device as in  claim 19 , wherein the anchor is a strip with an “H”-shaped pattern or a “C”-shaped pattern so that when compressed the anchor forms bypass channels. 
     
     
         21 . Apparatus comprising:
 a length of material;   a tension member attached to a distal location on the length of material, said tension member adapted to compact the material into an occluding or anchoring structure in a body lumen or cavity when the tension member is pulled proximally;   wherein at least a portion of a surface of the length of material is coated or laminated with a radiopaque material so that said radiopaque material becomes layered when said length of material is compacted to enhance radiopacity.   
     
     
         22 . Apparatus as in  claim 21 , wherein the radiopaque material comprises a metal foil 
     
     
         23 . Apparatus as in  claim 22 , wherein the metal foil comprises a gold foil. 
     
     
         24 . Apparatus as in  claim 21 , wherein the radiopaque material comprises radiopaque ink.