Menlo Care, Inc.

Cordis Corporation

Joseph R Thomas

Robert Steven Bley

Jack M Walker

Daniel J Balbierz

Kevin H Van Bladel

Ronald C Brown

Kevin Van Bladel

The present invention is a medical device such as a stent in the form of an expandable mesh with an expandable polymer layer thereon. The mesh is metal or plastic. The polymer may be any of a variety of expandable polymers, which either expand upon hydration, or expand without significant resistance. The invention may be used, for example, as an expandable biliary, vascular, endotracheal, esophageal, or prostatic device.

Covered expanding mesh stent

In accordance with the invention, there are provided medical devices with incorporated shape memory systems that allow a polymeric medical device to be inserted in a first conformation or configuration and revert to a second conformation or configuration. The invention is useful in allowing the easy insertion or implantation of a device followed by expansion of the device in order to be retained without expulsion from a body cavity, for example. In another aspect of the invention there is provided a medical device, such as a ureteral stent, that includes comprising an elongated member having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion joined by a body portion. The elongated member has an initial outer diameter. A retention construction serves for retaining the member within a bodily cavity. The member is formulated of a physiologically acceptable polymer capable of hydrating and expanding from the initial member outer diameter to form a final member outer diameter. The device can assume differing shapes and can exhibit different degrees of softening at different places along its length and possess shape memory so that it can be inserted in a first conformation or configuration and revert to a second conformation or configuration upon the occurrence of a triggering event such as hydration.

Polymeric medical device systems having shape memory

A ureteral stent comprising an elongated member having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion joined by a body portion. The elongated member has an initial outer diameter. A retention construction serves for retaining the member within the ureter. The member is formulated of a physiologically acceptable polymer capable of hydrating and expanding from the initial member outer diameter to form a final member outer diameter. The stent can assume differing shapes and can exhibit different degrees of softening at different places along its length.

Softening expanding ureteral stent

A catheter assembly is provided. An attachment structure has a proximal end portion of an outer cannula attached to it. A needle is insertable through the outer cannula and the attachment structure. An inner cannula is attached to an inner cannula attachment region of the attachment structure. The inner cannula is insertable axially through the attachment structure. The attachment structure can comprise two hubs, one for the outer cannula and the other for the inner cannula, the two hubs being attachable to one another to form the overall attachment structure. A valve structure is associated with the attachment structure, suitably with the outer cannula hub. The valve structure normally closes communication between an access passage in the attachment structure, e.g., in the outer cannula hub, and the outer cannula lumen. The valve structure opens sufficiently for the inner cannula to pass through it and to open communication between the access passage and the outer cannula lumen when the inner cannula is inserted through another passage in the attachment structure and through the outer cannula lumen. The assembly allows the removal of the inner cannula and the insertion of a replacement inner cannula, if desired, without removing the outer cannula from the blood vessel. Use of a relatively small diameter needle for a desired diameter outer cannula can also be provided if the material of the outer cannula is such that it will swell in place.

Catheter with changeable number of lumens

A swellable cannula is formed of concentric inner and outer hydrophilic and substantially non-hydrophilic layer structures. The hydrophilic layer structure comprises at least 2/3rds of the cross-sectional area of the wall of the cannula. The substantially non-hydrophilic layer structure is either substantially water impermeable or allows water to pass through at a controlled rate. The substantially non-hydrophilic layer structure may also control the diffusion of medicaments. The cannula has controlled softenability and swellability characteristics.

Multi-layer cannula structure

A tubular cannula has distal and proximal end portions, a central passageway from the distal end portion of the proximal portion and a transition section connecting the distal and proximal end portions. The proximal end portion has larger inner and outer diamters and has thicker walls than does the distal end portion. The diameter difference and thickness are effectuated in a gradual manner in a transition section. The cannula is constructed of a material that softens on being inserted into a living body and/or contacted with an aqueous medium. The cannula combines kink resistance external of the living body with the advantages of a softening and generally swellable catheter.

Growing community of inventors

San Carlos, CA, United States of America

Joseph R Thomas