Stent with soluble bladder retention member

Abstract

Ureteral stents having at least a portion of a proximal end of the ureteral stent constructed with a material that dissolves after being exposed to a bodily fluid for a period of time are disclosed herein. At least a portion of the proximal end portion of the elongate member includes a dissolving portion configured to dissolve in response to being exposed to a bodily fluid for a period of time. The elongate member also includes a non-dissolving portion that includes the entire retention member of the distal end portion and is substantially stable in the bodily fluid of the urinary tract of the patient. In some embodiments, a medial portion of the ureteral stent is also constructed with one or more dissolving materials. In some implementations, the proximal and/or the medial portions of the ureteral stent are constructed using various combinations of dissolving and non-dissolving materials.

1 . A ureteral stent, comprising:
 a distal end portion configured to be disposed within at least one of a kidney and a ureter of a patient, the distal end portion including a non-dissolving portion, the non-dissolving portion being stable in a bodily fluid of a urinary tract of the patient;   a proximal end portion configured to be disposed within at least one of a ureter and a bladder of the patient, the proximal end portion including a dissolving portion, the dissolving portion being configured to dissolve in response to being exposed to the bodily fluid for a period of time; and   a tether coupled to the distal end portion and configured to help remove the distal end portion from the body of the patient.   
     
     
         2 . The ureteral stent of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end portion defines a lumen. 
     
     
         3 . The ureteral stent of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end portion defines a lumen. 
     
     
         4 . The ureteral stent of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end portion defines a lumen and the proximal end portion defines a lumen, the lumen defined by the distal end portion being in fluid communication with the lumen defined by the proximal end portion. 
     
     
         5 . The ureteral stent of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end portion defines a lumen and at least a portion of the tether is disposed within the lumen defined by the proximal end portion. 
     
     
         6 . The ureteral stent of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end portion includes a retention member configured to help retain a portion of the ureteral stent within a kidney of a patient, the proximal end portion includes a retention member configured to help retain a portion of the ureteral sent within a bladder of a patient. 
     
     
         7 . The ureteral stent of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end portion includes a curved retention member. 
     
     
         8 . The ureteral stent of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end portion includes a curved retention member. 
     
     
         9 . The ureteral stent of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the distal end portion overlaps a portion of the proximal end portion. 
     
     
         10 . The ureteral stent of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the proximal end portion overlaps a portion of the distal end portion. 
     
     
         11 . The ureteral stent of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end portion extends from and is coupled to the distal end portion. 
     
     
         12 . A ureteral stent, comprising:
 a first portion;   a second portion; and   a third portion,   the second portion is disposed between the first portion and the third portion, the first portion includes a non-dissolving material, the non-dissolving material being formulated to be stable in a bodily fluid of a urinary tract of a patient, the second portion includes a dissolving material, the dissolving material being formulated to dissolve in response to being exposed to the bodily fluid of the urinary tract of the patient, and the third portion includes a non-dissolving material.   
     
     
         13 . The ureteral stent of  claim 12 , wherein the third portion is configured to separate from the first portion in response to the second portion dissolving. 
     
     
         14 . The ureteral stent of  claim 12 , wherein the third portion is coupled to the first portion via the second portion. 
     
     
         15 . The ureteral stent of  claim 12 , wherein the first portion includes a retention member and is configured to be disposed in at least one of a kidney of a patient and a ureter of a patient. 
     
     
         16 . The ureteral stent of  claim 12 , wherein the first portion defines a lumen, the second portion defines a lumen, and the third portion defines a lumen. 
     
     
         17 . The ureteral stent of  claim 12 , wherein the first portion defines a lumen, the second portion defines a lumen, and the third portion defines a lumen, the lumen of the first portion being in fluid communication with the lumen of the second portion, the lumen of the second portion being in fluid communication with the lumen of the third portion. 
     
     
         18 . The ureteral sent of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a fourth portion; and   a fifth portion,   the fourth portion being disposed between the third portion and the fifth portion, the fourth portion including a dissolving material, the fifth portion including a non-dissolving portion.