Method for treatment of obstructive portions of urinary passageways

Claim 1

A method for treatment of an obstructive portion of a urinary passageway of a mammal, said method comprising of the steps of: measuring the length of said obstructive portion of said passageway, providing a stent adapted to assume a first condition when exposed to body temperature of said mammal, and adapted to assume a second condition when exposed to a transition temperature less than said body temperature, said stent in said first condition being rigid and generally tubular in configuration, and having a selected length substantially equal to the measured length of said obstructive portion, and in said second condition being flexible and compressible to a size substantially smaller in diameter than the size of said stent in said first condition, carrying said stent through said passageway to said obstructive portion, flowing a cool solution through a carrier containing said stent, said cool solution being of a temperature no greater than said transition temperature, separating said stent from said carrier in said passageway in said obstructive portion, and discontinuing said flow of said cool solution, whereby said stent is caused by said body temperature to assume said first condition to hold open said obstructive portion.

Claim 2

A method for treatment of an obstructive portion of a urinary passageway of a mammal, said method comprising of the steps of: measuring the length of said obstructive portion of said passageway, providing a stent adapted to assume a first condition when exposed to body temperature of said mammal, and adapted to assume a second condition when exposed to a transition temperature less than said body temperature, said stent in said first condition being rigid and generally tubular in configuration, and having a selected length substantially equal to the measured length of said obstructive portion, and in said second condition being flexible and compressible to a size substantially smaller in diameter than the size of said stent in said first condition, carrying said stent through said passageway to said obstructive portion, flowing a cool solution through a carrier containing said stent, said cool solution being of a temperature no greater than said transition temperature, separating said stent from said carrier in said passageway in said obstructive portion, and discontinuing said flow of said cool solution, whereby said stent is caused by said body temperature to assume said first condition to hold open said obstructive portion.

Claim 5

A method for treatment of obstructive urethra portions in a mammal, said method comprising the steps of: inserting a cystoscope in said urethra, moving said cystoscope in said urethra to dispose a distal end of said cystoscope proximate a furthest end of the obstructive portion, measuring the length of the obstructive portion of said urethra through said cystoscope, providing a stent adapted to assume a first condition when exposed to body temperature of said mammal, and adapted to assume a second condition when exposed to a transition temperature less than said body temperature, said stent in said first condition being rigid and generally tubular in configuration, and having a selected length substantially equal to the measured length of said obstructive portion, and in said second condition being flexible and compressible to a size substantially smaller in diameter than the size of said stent in said first condition, inserting said stent in said second condition into a catheter, moving said stent to a distal end of said catheter, inserting said catheter in said cystoscope, moving said catheter through said cystoscope to position said stent adjacent said obstructive portion of said urethra; flowing a cool solution through said catheter, said cool solution being at a temperature no more than said transition temperature, moving said stent out of said catheter and into said obstructed portion of said urethra, and discontinuing said flow of said cool solution through said catheter, whereby said stent is caused by said body temperature to assume said first condition to hold open said urethra obstructive portion.

Claim 6

A method for treatment of obstructive urethra portions in a mammal, said method comprising the steps of: inserting a cystoscope in said urethra, moving said cystoscope in said urethra to dispose a distal end of said cystoscope proximate a furthest end of the obstructive portion, measuring the length of the obstructive portion of said urethra through said cystoscope, providing a stent adapted to assume a first condition when exposed to body temperature of said mammal, and adapted to assume a second condition when exposed to a transition temperature less than said body temperature, said stent in said first condition being rigid and generally tubular in configuration, and having a selected length substantially equal to the measured length of said obstructive portion, and in said second condition being flexible and compressible to a size substantially smaller in diameter than the size of said stent in said first condition, inserting said stent in said second condition into a catheter, moving said stent to a distal end of said catheter, inserting said catheter in said cystoscope, moving said catheter through said cystoscope to position said stent adjacent said obstructive portion of said urethra; flowing a cool solution through said catheter, said cool solution being at a temperature no more than said transition temperature, moving said stent out of said catheter and into said obstructed portion of said urethra, and discontinuing said flow of said cool solution through said catheter, whereby said stent is caused by said body temperature to assume said first condition to hold open said urethra obstructive portion.

Claim 12

A method for treatment of obstructive prostatism in a mammal having a bladder and a urethra with a prostatic portion, said method comprising the steps of: inserting a cystoscope in said urethra, moving said cystoscope in said urethra to dispose a distal end of said cystoscope proximate said bladder, measuring said prostatic portion of said urethra through said cystoscope, providing a stent adapted to assume a first condition when exposed to body temperature of said mammal, and adapted to assume a second condition when exposed to a transition temperature less than said body temperature, said stent in said first condition being rigid and generally tubular in configuration, and having a selected length substantially equal to the measured length of said prostatic portion, and in said second condition being flexible and compressible to a size substantially smaller in diameter than the size of said stent in said first condition, inserting said stent in said second condition into a catheter, moving said stent to a distal end of said catheter, inserting said catheter through said cystoscope to position said stent adjacent said prostatic portion of said urethra; flowing a cool solution through said catheter, said cool solution being at a temperature no more than said transition temperature, moving said stent out of said catheter and into said prostatic portion of said urethra, and discontinuing said flow of said cool solution through said catheter, whereby said stent is caused by said body temperature to assume said first condition to hold open said urethra prostatic portion.

Claim 13

A method for treatment of obstructive prostatism in a mammal having a bladder and a urethra with a prostatic portion, said method comprising the steps of: inserting a cystoscope in said urethra, moving said cystoscope in said urethra to dispose a distal end of said cystoscope proximate said bladder, measuring said prostatic portion of said urethra through said cystoscope, providing a stent adapted to assume a first condition when exposed to body temperature of said mammal, and adapted to assume a second condition when exposed to a transition temperature less than said body temperature, said stent in said first condition being rigid and generally tubular in configuration, and having a selected length substantially equal to the measured length of said prostatic portion, and in said second condition being flexible and compressible to a size substantially smaller in diameter than the size of said stent in said first condition, inserting said stent in said second condition into a catheter, moving said stent to a distal end of said catheter, inserting said catheter through said cystoscope to position said stent adjacent said prostatic portion of said urethra; flowing a cool solution through said catheter, said cool solution being at a temperature no more than said transition temperature, moving said stent out of said catheter and into said prostatic portion of said urethra, and discontinuing said flow of said cool solution through said catheter, whereby said stent is caused by said body temperature to assume said first condition to hold open said urethra prostatic portion.

Claim 19

A method for treatment of obstructive ureter portions in a mammal, said method comprising the steps of: measuring the length of the obstructive portion of the ureter, providing a stent adapted to assume a first condition when exposed to body temperature of said mammal, and adapted to assume a second condition when exposed to a transition temperature less than said body temperature, said stent in said first condition being rigid and generally tubular in configuration, and having a selected length substantially equal to the measured length of said obstructive portion, and in said second condition being flexible and compressible to a size substantially smaller in diameter than the size of said stent in said first condition, extending a wire between a bladder at a first end of said ureter and a renal pelvis at a second end of said ureter, said wire extending through said obstructive portion of said ureter, placing a catheter with said stent therein in said second condition around said wire, moving said catheter along said wire until said catheter is disposed in said obstructive portion of said ureter, flowing a cool solution at a temperature no greater than said transition temperature through said catheter and through said stent to maintain said stent in said second condition, separating said catheter from said stent, terminating said flow of said cool solution, and withdrawing said catheter and said wire from said ureter, leaving said stent in said obstructive portion of said ureter, whereby said stent is caused by said body temperature to assume said first condition to hold upon said obstructive portion of said ureter.

Claim 20

A method for treatment of obstructive ureter portions in a mammal, said method comprising the steps of: measuring the length of the obstructive portion of the ureter, providing a stent adapted to assume a first condition when exposed to body temperature of said mammal, and adapted to assume a second condition when exposed to a transition temperature less than said body temperature, said stent in said first condition being rigid and generally tubular in configuration, and having a selected length substantially equal to the measured length of said obstructive portion, and in said second condition being flexible and compressible to a size substantially smaller in diameter than the size of said stent in said first condition, extending a wire between a bladder at a first end of said ureter and a renal pelvis at a second end of said ureter, said wire extending through said obstructive portion of said ureter, placing a catheter with said stent therein in said second condition around said wire, moving said catheter along said wire until said catheter is disposed in said obstructive portion of said ureter, flowing a cool solution at a temperature no greater than said transition temperature through said catheter and through said stent to maintain said stent in said second condition, separating said catheter from said stent, terminating said flow of said cool solution, and withdrawing said catheter and said wire from said ureter, leaving said stent in said obstructive portion of said ureter, whereby said stent is caused by said body temperature to assume said first condition to hold upon said obstructive portion of said ureter.

Claim 28

A method for treatment of obstructive ureter portions in a mammal, said method comprising the steps of: moving a ureteroscope into a ureter and through said ureter to gain visual access to the obstructive portion of the ureter, visually measuring the length of said obstructive portion of said ureter, providing a stent adapted to assume a first condition when exposed to body temperature of said mammal, and adapted to assume a second condition when exposed to a transition temperature less than said body temperature, said stent in said first condition being rigid and generally tubular in configuration, and having a selected length substantially equal to the measured length of said obstructive portion, and in said second condition being flexible and compressible to a size substantially smaller in diameter that the size of said stent in said first condition, placing said stent in said second condition in a catheter, passing said catheter with said stent therein through a working channel of said ureteroscope until a distal end of said catheter is at or beyond a furthest boundary of said obstructive portion, expelling said stent from said catheter and into said ureter in said obstructive portion, whereby said stent is caused by said body temperature to assume said first condition to hold open said ureter obstructive portion.

Claim 29

A method for treatment of obstructive ureter portions in a mammal, said method comprising the steps of: moving a ureteroscope into a ureter and through said ureter to gain visual access to the obstructive portion of the ureter, visually measuring the length of said obstructive portion of said ureter, providing a stent adapted to assume a first condition when exposed to body temperature of said mammal, and adapted to assume a second condition when exposed to a transition temperature less than said body temperature, said stent in said first condition being rigid and generally tubular in configuration, and having a selected length substantially equal to the measured length of said obstructive portion, and in said second condition being flexible and compressible to a size substantially smaller in diameter that the size of said stent in said first condition, placing said stent in said second condition in a catheter, passing said catheter with said stent therein through a working channel of said ureteroscope until a distal end of said catheter is at or beyond a furthest boundary of said obstructive portion, expelling said stent from said catheter and into said ureter in said obstructive portion, whereby said stent is caused by said body temperature to assume said first condition to hold open said ureter obstructive portion.