IP Library Granted Patent US 12,440,229
Granted Patent B2
US 12,440,229 · App. 17/748,350 · Granted Oct 14, 2025

Kidney stone suction tube device and related methods of use

Inventors: Robert W. Reagan, Jr. (Clinton, NC); Stephen Loehr (Chapel Hill, NC)
A61B17/22A61B1/307A61B2017/22079
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,440,229
App. No.
17/748,350
Granted
Oct 14, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The subject matter described herein includes a kidney stone suction tube device and related methods of use. According to one example, the disclosed subject matter includes a suction tube device comprising a flexible tubing element comprising a modified suction tube portion characterized as having U-shaped hollow lumen channel and an intra-renal portion characterized as having circular shaped lumen channel. The intra-renal portion of the suction tube device further includes a collection cylinder section configured for storing kidney stone fragments. In addition, the connection of the modified suction tube portion and the collection cylinder section includes a mesh filter element configured to prevent admittance of kidney stones into the modified suction tube portion of the flexible tubing element.

Claims (15)

1. A suction tube device comprising:

a flexible tubing element comprising a modified suction tube portion characterized as having a U-shaped hollow lumen channel formation and an intra-renal portion characterized as having a circular shaped lumen channel; and

an interface configured to attach the intra-renal portion to a distal tip of a ureteroscope device;

wherein the intra-renal portion further includes a collection cylinder section configured for storing kidney stone fragments; and

wherein a connection of the modified suction tube portion and the collection cylinder section includes a mesh filter element configured to prevent admittance of kidney stones into the modified suction tube portion of the flexible tubing element.

2. The suction tube device of claim 1 wherein each of the modified suction tube portion and the intra-renal portion is comprised of plastic or silicone.

3. The suction tube device of claim 1 wherein the flexible tubing element is configured to be inserted into a patient body via a ureteral sheath.

4. The suction tube device of claim 3 wherein the U-shaped hollow lumen channel formation is configured to receive the insertion and/or positioning of a flexible portion of a ureteroscope device within the ureteral sheath.

5. The suction tube device of claim 1 wherein the intra-renal portion of the flexible tubing element includes one or more magnet elements.

6. The suction tube device of claim 5 wherein the one or more magnet elements are configured to magnetically couple with opposing magnet elements positioned on the distal tip of the ureteroscope device.

7. The suction tube device of claim 1 wherein a surface of the intra-renal portion of the flexible tubing element includes one or more side-port openings to receive at least a portion of the kidney stone fragments and dust.

8. The suction tube device of claim 1 wherein suction applied to the flexible tubing element pulls the kidney stone fragments into the suction tube device.

9. The suction tube device of claim 1 wherein the kidney stone fragments include kidney stone dust and/or sand.

10. The suction tube device of claim 1 further including a manual shut off valve that is configured to cease suction in the flexible tubing element.

11. The suction tube device of claim 1 wherein the U-shaped hollow lumen channel formation is configured to receive the insertion and/or positioning of a flexible portion of a ureteroscope device.

Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63190517 · May 19, 2021
Related Publication 20220370085A1 · Nov 24, 2022
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