Ureteral stent drug delivery device, kit, and method

Abstract

Ureteral stent devices having improved drug delivery capabilities are provided. The ureteral stent device includes a ureteral stent comprising two opposed ends, and a drug delivery component associated with at least one end of the ureteral stent. The drug delivery component includes a drug housing defining a drug reservoir containing a drug, wherein the drug housing is configured to release the drug in-vivo.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An implantable ureteral stent device, comprising:
 an elongated central body comprising a kidney-residing end portion, an opposed bladder-residing end portion, and an internal lumen extending between the kidney-residing end portion and the bladder-residing end portion; and   a drug delivery component attached to the kidney-residing end portion or the bladder-residing end portion of the central body, wherein the drug delivery component comprises a drug housing defining a drug reservoir containing a drug, and wherein the drug delivery component is configured to operate as an osmotic pump to release the drug.   
     
     
         2 . The implantable ureteral stent device of  claim 1 , wherein the drug housing comprises a wall formed of a water-permeable material and at least partially defining the drug reservoir. 
     
     
         3 . The implantable ureteral stent device of  claim 1 , wherein the drug housing comprises an inner wall and a concentric outer wall each at least partially defining the drug reservoir such that the drug reservoir is formed as an annular space. 
     
     
         4 . The implantable ureteral stent device of  claim 1 , wherein the drug housing comprises a tubular wall at least partially defining the drug reservoir such that the drug reservoir is formed as a central lumen. 
     
     
         5 . The implantable ureteral stent device of  claim 1 , wherein the drug is in solid or semi-solid form. 
     
     
         6 . The implantable ureteral stent device of  claim 1 , wherein the drug delivery component comprises a plurality of solid drug tablets contained within the drug housing and comprising the drug. 
     
     
         7 . The implantable ureteral stent device of  claim 1 , wherein the central body and the drug housing are integrally formed with one another. 
     
     
         8 . The implantable ureteral stent device of  claim 1 , wherein the drug delivery component is attached to the bladder-residing end portion of the central body. 
     
     
         9 . The implantable ureteral stent device of  claim 1 , wherein the drug delivery component extends along a portion of a length of the central body. 
     
     
         10 . The implantable ureteral stent device of  claim 1 , wherein the drug delivery component extends along an entire length of the central body. 
     
     
         11 . The implantable ureteral stent device of  claim 1 , wherein the drug delivery component is movable between a deployment shape for deployment of the ureteral stent device to an implantation site of a patient and a retention shape for retention of the ureteral stent device at the implantation site. 
     
     
         12 . The implantable ureteral stent device of  claim 11 , wherein the retention shape of the drug delivery component is coiled or curved. 
     
     
         13 . The implantable ureteral stent device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the kidney-residing end portion and the bladder-residing end portion of the central body is movable between a deployment shape for deployment of the ureteral stent device to an implantation site of a patient and a retention shape for retention of the ureteral stent device at the implantation site. 
     
     
         14 . The implantable ureteral stent device of  claim 13 , wherein the retention shapes of the kidney-residing end portion and the bladder-residing end portion are coiled or curved. 
     
     
         15 . The implantable ureteral stent device of  claim 1 , wherein the internal lumen of the central body extends through the drug delivery component. 
     
     
         16 . The implantable ureteral stent device of  claim 1 , wherein the internal lumen of the central body is fluidly connected to an internal lumen of the drug delivery component such that the internal lumen of the central body and the internal lumen of the drug delivery component form a single continuous lumen. 
     
     
         17 . A method of administering a drug to a patient in need thereof, the method comprising:
 inserting a ureteral stent device through the patient's urethra and bladder and into at least one of the patient's ureters, wherein the ureteral stent device comprises:
 an elongated central body comprising a kidney-residing end portion, an opposed bladder-residing end portion, and an internal lumen extending between the kidney-residing end portion and the bladder-residing end portion; and 
 a drug delivery component attached to the kidney-residing end portion or the bladder-residing end portion of the central body, wherein the drug delivery component comprises a drug housing defining a drug reservoir containing a drug, and wherein the drug housing comprises a wall formed of a water-permeable material and at least partially defining the drug reservoir; and 
   allowing water to permeate through the wall of the drug housing such that the drug is released by osmotic pumping.   
     
     
         18 . An implantable ureteral stent device, comprising:
 an elongated central body comprising a kidney-residing end portion, an opposed bladder-residing end portion, and an internal lumen extending between the kidney-residing end portion and the bladder-residing end portion; and   a drug delivery component attached to the kidney-residing end portion or the bladder-residing end portion of the central body, wherein the drug delivery component comprises a drug housing defining a drug reservoir containing a drug, and wherein the drug housing comprises a wall formed of a water-permeable material and at least partially defining the drug reservoir.   
     
     
         19 . The implantable ureteral stent device of  claim 18 , wherein the drug delivery component is configured to operate as an osmotic pump to release the drug. 
     
     
         20 . The implantable ureteral stent device of  claim 18 , wherein the drug delivery component is attached to the bladder-residing end portion of the central body.