Curved ureteral access sheath

Abstract

The present invention provides a ureteral access sheath (UAS). The UAS comprises a shape-memory, elastically deformable tube, the shape of which includes a rounded curve at its leading end corresponding to the anatomical shape from the entrance of the ureter beyond the junction to the renal cavity (renal pelvis), and an access funnel provided at the trailing end of the tube. The UAS further comprises a corresponding dilator, the dilator comprising a shape-memory tubular body, the shape of which includes a rounded curve at its leading end corresponding to the curved shape of the elastically deformable tube of the UAS.

Claims

1. Ureteral access sheath (UAS), An elastically deformable tube with shape memory, wherein the shape of the tube includes a rounded curve at its leading end that corresponds to the anatomical shape from the entrance of the ureter to beyond the junction with the renal cavity (renal pelvis), The access funnel at the trailing end of the tube, UAS, including.

2. The UAS according to claim 1, comprising a corresponding dilator, the dilator having a tubular body with shape memory, wherein the shape of the tubular body includes a rounded curve at its leading end that generally corresponds to the curved shape of the elastically deformable tube of the UAS.

3. The UAS according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the dilator includes a dilator grip or dilator clip at its trailing end, thereby allowing the user to rotate the dilator within the UAS tube.

4. The UAS according to claim 3, wherein the dilator grip or dilator clip includes an indicator marking that indicates when the shapes of the UAS and the dilator match in their natural stationary shapes, and / or when the orientation of the dilator is 180 degrees opposite and the shapes of the UAS and the dilator cancel each other out to provide a generally linear UAS for initial insertion.

5. The UAS according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the leading edge of the UAS tube is rounded or chamfered from the inner edge of the leading edge toward the outer surface of the tube.

6. The dilator is provided with a tip made of flexible, flexible-following, and shape-memory deformable soft thermoplastic polyurethane, the tip being generally conical in shape, the tip having a two-part structure, the leading portion having a rounded tapered cone shape, and the integral trailing portion having a frustoconical shape, the leading portion being longer than the trailing portion, and the angle of the cone with respect to the axis of the tube being sharper in the trailing portion than in the leading portion, the UAS according to any one of claims 2 to 5.

7. The UAS according to claim 6, wherein the trailing diameter of the trailing portion of the shape-memory deformable tip is greater than the inner diameter of the UAS tube, and in the portion that extends beyond the leading edge of the tube when in the operating position, the trailing surface of the tip bulges outward to cover the leading edge of the tube.

8. A dilator comprising a tubular body having shape memory, wherein the shape of the tubular body includes a rounded curve at its leading end that generally corresponds to the curved shape of the elastically deformable tube of the UAS described in any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. A ureteral access system comprising a UAS according to any one of claims 1 to 7 and a dilator according to claim 8.

Images