EP0274846A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for treating hypertrophy of the prostate gland
Assignee: Boston Scientific Corp
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Filing: 1987-12-01
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-12-01
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a method and apparatus for treatment of hypertrophy of the prostate gland. The apparatus comprises an expansion catheter (1) having an expandable tubular stent (18) associated therewith, adapted for transurethral insertion via the external opening of the urethra and placement within a stenotic region of the urethral lumen caused by a hypertrophied prostate gland. Force exerted by the expansion catheter upon the tubular expandable stent causes an opening of the lumen within the prostatic urethra. Removal of the expansion catheter, leaving in place the expanded tubular stent, ensures a long-term patency of the urethral lumen. Also disclosed is an apparatus (35) for reducing in diameter and thereafter removing a previously implanted and expanded tubular stent made and inserted in accordance with the present invention.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert F. Rosenbluth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 22:31
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/82; A61F2/86; A61F2/90; A61F2/91; A61F2/915; A61F2/95; A61F2/958; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30108; A61F2002/3011; A61F2002/30182; A61F2002/30187; A61F2002/9155; A61F2002/91558; A61F2002/9583; A61F2230/00; A61F2230/0002; A61F2230/0028; A61F2230/0034; A61F2230/0054; A61F2230/0063; A61F2230/0071
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
An apparatus for relieving the symptoms of hypertrophy of the prostate gland, comprising: an axially elongate catheter shaft comprising at least one lumen therethrough and having an annular recess thereon for receiving a stent; an expandable balloon mounted on said shaft in said recess and in communication with said lumen; and a removably mounted, radially outwardly deformable and expandable tubular stent coaxially disposed about said balloon and situated in said recess, wherein said stent has an opening at each axial end and a central lumen therethrough, wherein said stent is radially expandable by deformation to a preselected configuration in response to pressure from said balloon, and the outside diameter of the stent, in its unexpanded state, is not substantially greater than the outside diameter of the adjacent catheter shaft.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
129 words
An apparatus for relieving the symptoms of hypertrophy of the prostate gland, comprising: an axially elongate catheter shaft comprising at least one lumen therethrough and having an annular recess thereon for receiving a stent; an expandable balloon mounted on said shaft in said recess and in communication with said lumen; and a removably mounted, radially outwardly deformable and expandable tubular stent coaxially disposed about said balloon and situated in said recess, wherein said stent has an opening at each axial end and a central lumen therethrough, wherein said stent is radially expandable by deformation to a preselected configuration in response to pressure from said balloon, and the outside diameter of the stent, in its unexpanded state, is not substantially greater than the outside diameter of the adjacent catheter shaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as in Claim 1, wherein said balloon in its expanded state has a non-cylindrical configuration.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as in Claim 1, wherein said balloon in its expanded state has a smaller cross-sectional area at its axial ends than in the central region thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as in Claim 1, wherein said catheter further comprises a lumen for receiving a guidewire therethrough.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as in Claim 1, further comprising at least one radiopaque marker associated with the axial position of said balloon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as in Claim 1, wherein said balloon expands to a configuration having a non-circular cross section, and a convex profile along its axial length.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as in Claim 1, further comprising a biocompatible, essentially smooth coating on said stent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
76 words
An apparatus of Claim 1, wherein the catheter shaft distal of said recess comprises: an interior shaft having a diameter no greater than the interior diameter of said stent, wherein the distal end of said balloon is bonded to said interior shaft; and an exterior shaft connected to said interior shaft over said bonded distal end of said balloon, said exterior shaft having a diameter at least as great as the exterior diameter of said stent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
111 words
An elongate, cylindrical expandable stent, comprising: a first end; a second end; a plurality of elongate members extending from said first end to said second end; a plurality of nodes interconnecting adjacent members, said nodes arranged along the length of said adjacent members so that, progressing from said first end to said second end, each member is alternately connected to members on either side thereof, and wherein the cross-sectional area of each said member is non-uniform, such that for at least one node along the length of each member, the cross-sectional area of said member is greater adjacent to said one node than at a point removed from said one node.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
111 words
An elongate, cylindrical expandable stent, comprising: a first end; a second end; a plurality of elongate members extending from said first end to said second end; a plurality of nodes interconnecting adjacent members, said nodes arranged along the length of said adjacent members so that, progressing from said first end to said second end, each member is alternately connected to members on either side thereof, and wherein the cross-sectional area of each said member is non-uniform, such that for at least one node along the length of each member, the cross-sectional area of said member is greater adjacent to said one node than at a point removed from said one node.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
65 words
An elongate, cylindrical expandable stent, comprising: a first end; a second end; a plurality of elongate members having a rounded, non-rectangular cross section extending from said first end to said second end; and a plurality of nodes interconnecting adjacent members, wherein said elongate members and said nodes are integrally formed from a single piece of material and said stent exhibits a generally smooth outer profile.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
65 words
An elongate, cylindrical expandable stent, comprising: a first end; a second end; a plurality of elongate members having a rounded, non-rectangular cross section extending from said first end to said second end; and a plurality of nodes interconnecting adjacent members, wherein said elongate members and said nodes are integrally formed from a single piece of material and said stent exhibits a generally smooth outer profile.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The stent of Claim 9 or 10, wherein said members are generally parallel to each other.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
92 words
The stent of Claim 9 or 10, wherein each member is connected to adjacent members at at least four nodes arranged along the length of each member, and wherein said nodes comprise terminal nodes located at said first end and at said second end, secondary nodes adjacent to said terminal nodes, and interior nodes between said secondary nodes, wherein the cross sectional area of said members where they connect to said secondary nodes is greater on the terminal side of said secondary nodes than on the interior side of said secondary nodes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The stent of Claim 9, wherein the said members are nonrectangular and rounded in cross section.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
179 words
A method for making a catheter having an expandable balloon positioned in a recess at the distal end thereof, comprising the steps of: providing a catheter comprising an interior shaft and a concentric exterior shaft over said interior shaft, said exterior shaft having an outer diameter that is greater than the outer diameter of said interior shaft, wherein said exterior shaft terminates proximally of the distal end of said catheter and the interior shaft extends distally of the distal end of said exterior shaft; attaching an inflatable balloon to said catheter so that the balloon is over the extending portion of said interior shaft and the distal end of said balloon is bonded to said interior shaft, and so that a distal-most portion of said interior shaft extends distally of said balloon; placing an expandable tubular stent over said balloon; and attaching an end piece over said distal-most portion of said interior shaft to retain said stent over said balloon, wherein said end piece has an outer diameter at least as great as the outer diameter of said stent.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
179 words
A method for making a catheter having an expandable balloon positioned in a recess at the distal end thereof, comprising the steps of: providing a catheter comprising an interior shaft and a concentric exterior shaft over said interior shaft, said exterior shaft having an outer diameter that is greater than the outer diameter of said interior shaft, wherein said exterior shaft terminates proximally of the distal end of said catheter and the interior shaft extends distally of the distal end of said exterior shaft; attaching an inflatable balloon to said catheter so that the balloon is over the extending portion of said interior shaft and the distal end of said balloon is bonded to said interior shaft, and so that a distal-most portion of said interior shaft extends distally of said balloon; placing an expandable tubular stent over said balloon; and attaching an end piece over said distal-most portion of said interior shaft to retain said stent over said balloon, wherein said end piece has an outer diameter at least as great as the outer diameter of said stent.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of Claim 14, wherein the outer diameter of said end piece is substantially the same as the diameter of said exterior shaft.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of Claim 15, further comprising the step of inflating said balloon to test said balloon prior to placing said stent over said balloon.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein said stent is as defined in any one of Claims 9 to 13.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
108 words
An apparatus for removing a previously positioned and expanded stent from a body channel, comprising: an outer sheath having an inner lumen; a first attachment device within said lumen that is axially movable to extend axially out from the distal end of said lumen and extend radially to grasp the end of an implanted, radially expanded stent; and a means for radially retracting and axially drawing the attachment device and an attached stent into said lumen, so that the axial movement of the attachment device pulling the stent into the lumen acts to radially compress the stent so that the stent can be drawn fully into the lumen.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
108 words
An apparatus for removing a previously positioned and expanded stent from a body channel, comprising: an outer sheath having an inner lumen; a first attachment device within said lumen that is axially movable to extend axially out from the distal end of said lumen and extend radially to grasp the end of an implanted, radially expanded stent; and a means for radially retracting and axially drawing the attachment device and an attached stent into said lumen, so that the axial movement of the attachment device pulling the stent into the lumen acts to radially compress the stent so that the stent can be drawn fully into the lumen.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of Claim 19, wherein the attachment device includes at least three radially projecting members for grasping a stent.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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