Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
442 words
An apparatus for providing fluid drainage in a patient comprising: a stent (20, 60) including a flexible tubular member having an anatomically proximal end and an anatomically distal end and having a central lumen (20a, 60a) open at each of said ends for fluid drainage therethrough, and having an anatomically proximal end portion (23, 63) at said proximal end and an anatomically distal end portion (24, 64) at said distal end, the proximal end portion having a normally curved shape (21) adapted for retaining said stent (20, 60) in the kidney of the patient; and means removably associated with said stent for conveying said stent into position in the patient including a tubular positioner (25, 65), a guide (12, 52) having a flexible proximal end (14, 54) and a rigid body (13, 53) and a clamp (30, 70), said conveying means having a first condition with said guide extending serially through said positioner (25, 65) and said stent (20, 60) with said stent (20, 60) being situated adjacent said flexible proximal end (14, 54) of said guide (12, 52), reception of said stent (20, 60) on said guide (12, 52) straightening said normally curved shape (21) of said proximal end portion (23, 63) of said stent, said clamp (30, 70) releasably engaging said guide (12, 52) at said rigid body, said conveying means having a second condition with said clamp (30, 70) removed from said guide (12, 52) and said guide (12, 52) removed from said stent (20, 60), said stent (20, 60) in the second condition having a curved proximal portion (23, 63), said tubular positioner (25, 65) including a tubular body and having a first end (26, 66) abutting said distal end (24, 64) of said stent (20, 60); and wherein the central lumen (20a, 60a) of the tubular member of the stent (20, 60) has a substantially constant diameter throughout the entire length thereof, the guide (12, 52) is a wire guide and has a flexible anatomically proximal end and a rigid distal end, the distal end portion (24, 64) of the tubular member of the stent (20, 60) has a normally curved shape (21) adapted for retaining the stent (20, 60) in the bladder of the patient, reception of said stent (20, 60) on said wire guide (12, 52) straightening said normally curved shape (21) of said distal end portion (24, 64), the clamp (30, 70) further provides means for locking said positioner and said stent against motion relative to said wire guide toward said distal end of said wire guide, the clamp being in abutting relationship with said second end (27, 67) of said positioner (25, 65).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
94 words
The apparatus of claim 1, characterised in that said means removably associated with said stent (20, 60) for conveying include said relatively flexible tip (14, 54) having a predetermined length measured from said proximal end of said wire guide (12, 52), said predetermined length being sufficiently long to permit said proximal end portion (23, 63) of said stent (20, 60) to at least partially assume its curved shape (21) when said relatively flexible tip (14, 54) is disposed within said stent (20, 60) adjacent the proximal end (23, 63) of said stent (20, 60).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that said clamp (30, 70) includes means for adjusting the position of said stent (20, 60) and said positioner (25, 65) on said wire guide (12, 52) so that said proximal end (23, 63) of said stent (20, 60) is disposed over a portion of said predetermined length of said flexible tip (14, 54).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 1, 2 or 3 characterised in that the apparatus further comprises means for adjusting the flexibility of said flexible tip (14, 64) by positioning the proximal portion (23, 63) of said stent (20, 60) over said predetermined length of said flexible tip (14, 54); and means for positioning said stent.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of any preceding claim characterised in that the apparatus further comprises means for steering the apparatus including means for forming a filiform-like curved guide tip (14, 54) and means for straightening the filiform-like guide tip.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 5 characterised in that said means for forming a filiform-like guide tip include positioning the proximal portion (23, 63) of said stent (20, 60) over said predetermined length of said flexible tip.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 5 or claim 6 characterised in that said means for straightening the filiform-like guide tip include positioning said predetermined length of said flexible tip beyond said proximal portion.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
75 words
The apparatus of any preceding claim characterised in that: said positioner (65) includes a tapered tip (68) at one end of said positioner (65); and said tubular member includes a radially expandable portion at said distal end (64) of the member, whereby, said tapered tip (68) of said positioner (65) is removably received within said portion (64) of said member when said stent (60) and said positioner (65) are disposed on said wire guide (52).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
92 words
The apparatus of claim 8 characterised in that the apparatus further comprises a tubular sheath (75) slidably disposed about said positioner (65), said sheath (75) having a length less than the length of said positioner (65) and an end (76) for contacting said distal end (76) of said stent (60), whereby when said sheath (75) is stabilised, said distal end (64) of said stent (60) reacts against said end (76) of said sheath (75) when said tapered tip (68) of said positioner is removed from said radially expandable portion of said stent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 9 characterised in that the apparatus further comprises a second clamp (78) releasably engaged about said positioner (65) and abutting the distal end (77) of said sheath (75) to lock said sheath (75) against motion relative to said positioner (65) toward the distal end of said positioner (65).