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Publication Number
US-9226812-B2
Publication Date
2016-01-05
Expiration Date
Abstract
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a biliary stent making it possible to sufficiently exhibit a valve function while reducing the entire length of the biliary stent as compared to conventional ones. The present invention is a biliary stent (1) including a stent body (10), a tubular membrane (30) on one end of the stent body (10) and having a bile outflow port (34), and two support members (40, 50) which at one end (42, 52) are connected to the one end of the stent body (10) and at the other end (44, 54) are connected to the vicinity of the bile outflow port (34).
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a biliary stent that shortens overall length while maintaining valve function. The stent includes a radially expandable tubular stent body and a tubular membrane that protrudes from one end of the stent body and has a bile outflow port.
Two support members support the membrane and exert forces on the bile outflow port along directions away from each other. The support members are arranged at locations opposed to each other and interposing a tube axis of the stent body, with one end of each support member connected to the one end of the stent body and the other end connected to a vicinity of the bile outflow port.
A shape of an end face of the bile outflow port of the membrane from which the two support members are detached is flattened, so the bile outflow port is closed in a substantially linear shape when no bile flows. The straight-line distance between the other ends of the two support members and a peripheral length of the bile outflow port satisfy 2L≤C, and an end face of the bile outflow port may be a flattened ellipse having a major radius of at least twice a minor radius, optionally with a narrower central portion along the longitudinal direction than end portions. The document also discloses an optional tubular streamer portion connected to the bile outflow port.
Claims Coverage
The document provides two independent claims. Across the independent claims, the core inventive structure is a radially expandable biliary stent with a tubular membrane and bile outflow port supported by two opposed support members, together with specified end-face geometry and an added tubular streamer portion in one claim.
Radially expandable tubular stent body with tubular membrane and bile outflow port
A tubular stent body configured to be radially expandable; a tubular membrane provided to protrude from one end of the stent body and having a bile outflow port; and two support members supporting the membrane.
Two opposed support members exerting forces away from each other
One end of each of the two support members is connected to the one end of the tubular stent body, another end of each support member is connected to a vicinity of the bile outflow port, the two support members are arranged at locations opposed to each other and interposing a tube axis of the stent body, and are configured to exert forces on the bile outflow port along directions away from each other.
Flattened end face of the bile outflow port for linear closure
A shape of an end face of the bile outflow port of the membrane from which the two support members are detached is flattened.
Tubular streamer portion connected to the bile outflow port
A tubular streamer portion connected to the bile outflow port, in addition to the radially expandable tubular stent body, the tubular membrane protruding from one end and having a bile outflow port, and two support members supporting the membrane.
Overall claim coverage centers on a radially expandable biliary stent where two opposed support members mechanically load a tubular membrane’s bile outflow port, including flattened end-face geometry for the valve function and, in a second independent claim, an added tubular streamer portion connected to the bile outflow port.
Stated Advantages
Shortens overall length while maintaining valve function.
Closes the bile outflow port in a substantially linear shape when no bile flows.
Enables backflow prevention despite reduced membrane length.
Documented Applications
Use of the biliary stent for bile flow patency between gallbladder and duodenum (Test 1) and improved backflow prevention between duodenum and gallbladder (Test 2).
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