Removable and/or retrievable stents and kits
View Patent ↗Stents, kits and methods of using the stents are described herein. The stents may include one or more features that assist in removal and/or retrieval of the stent after deployment.
1. An implantable stent comprising:
a body comprising a first end and a second end, wherein a lumen extends through the body from the first end to the second end; and
a removal element fixedly attached to the body and extending away from the first end of the body, wherein the removal element comprises a first configuration in which the removal element has a first size and a second configuration in which the removal element has a second size, wherein the first size is smaller than the second size, and wherein the removal element comprises a self-expanding structure that is constrained in the first configuration; and further wherein the removal element is not constrained in the second configuration;
wherein the removal element increases from the first size to the second size over a selected period of time comprising two days or more after introduction into a body.
2. A stent according to claim 1 , wherein the removal element is constrained in the first configuration by a constraint element comprising enteric coating material.
3. A stent according to claim 1 , wherein the removal element is constrained in the first configuration by a constraint element comprising biodegradable material.
4. A stent according to claim 1 , wherein the removal element is attached to the stent by a flexible tether.
5. A stent according to claim 1 , wherein the removal element comprises a parachute-like shape in the second configuration.
6. A stent according to claim 1 , wherein the removal element is attached to the stent by a flexible tether, and wherein the removal element comprises a parachute-like shape in the second configuration.
7. An implantable stent comprising:
a body comprising a first end and a second end, wherein a lumen extends through the body from the first end to the second end; and
a removal element fixedly attached to the body by a flexible tether that extends away from the first end of the body, wherein the removal element comprises a first configuration in which the removal element has a first size and a second configuration in which the removal element has a second size, wherein the first size is smaller than the second size, and wherein the removal element comprises a self-expanding structure that is constrained in the first configuration;
wherein the removal element is constrained in the first configuration by a constraint element comprising enteric coating material that degrades after introduction into a body such that the removal element increases from the first size to the second size over a selected period of time comprising two days or more;
and wherein the removal element is not constrained by the constraint element in the second configuration.
8. A stent according to claim 7 , wherein the removal element is attached to the stent by a flexible tether.
9. A stent according to claim 7 , wherein the removal element comprises a parachute-like shape in the second configuration.
10. A stent according to claim 7 , wherein the removal element is attached to the stent by a flexible tether, and wherein the removal element comprises a parachute-like shape in the second configuration.
11. An implantable stent comprising:
a body comprising a first end and a second end, wherein a lumen extends through the body from the first end to the second end; and
a removal element fixedly attached to the body by a flexible tether that extends away from the first end of the body, wherein the removal element comprises a first configuration in which the removal element has a first size and a second configuration in which the removal element has a second size, wherein the first size is smaller than the second size, and wherein the removal element comprises a self-expanding structure that is constrained in the first configuration;
wherein the removal element is constrained in the first configuration by a constraint element comprising biodegradable material that degrades after introduction into a body such that the removal element increases from the first size to the second size over a selected period of time comprising two days or more;
and wherein the removal element is not constrained by the constraint element in the second configuration.
12. A stent according to claim 11 , wherein the removal element is attached to the stent by a flexible tether.
13. A stent according to claim 11 , wherein the removal element comprises a parachute-like shape in the second configuration.
14. A stent according to claim 11 , wherein the removal element is attached to the stent by a flexible tether, and wherein the removal element comprises a parachute-like shape in the second configuration.