Methods, apparatuses and systems are described for stent delivery and positioning to cover an access site. The method may include delivering the stent through an access site in a wall of the body lumen. In some cases, the method may include repositioning the stent within the body lumen to at least partially cover the access site with the stent. The stent may be repositioned within the body lumen by retracting the stent towards the access site such that a proximal portion of the stent at least partially covers the access site. The stent may then expand within the body lumen. In some cases, the stent may expand within the body lumen by releasing a primary constrainment member from the stent by pulling the primary constrainment member in a proximal direction away from the stent.

The present disclosure relates to the field of body lumen drainage. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to implantable medical devices for facilitating the flow of fluids and materials between adjacent body lumens. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a drainage stent which maintains an open flow passage between fused tissue layers.

A method for treating an intestine with an expandable scaffolding expanded within the intestine. After placing the expandable scaffolding at a target location, such as across a fistula, the first and second end portions of the expandable scaffolding are radially expanded such that the first and second end portions contact an inner surface of the intestine on opposing sides of the fistula, anchoring the first and second end portions to the intestine. Radially expanding the first and second end portions foreshortens the medial portion along the longitudinal axis such that the first and second end portions are drawn closer together along the longitudinal axis as the medial portion foreshortens to close the fistula.

A stent is disclosed that has an elongated body having a proximal end, a distal end, at least one open spiral channel formed on the exterior surface of the body to provide fluid communication between the proximal end and the distal end. The stent also has a central lumen open at the proximal and distal ends of the stent for the passage of a guide wire. A method for using the stent and a kit containing the stent are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to an endoluminal device for implantation in a body lumen, such as a pancreatic duct. The device is provided with a distal end region having greater flexibility than that of a medial region of the device.

Apparatus (20) is provided for use with a guidewire (12). The apparatus includes a guide tube (22) having a guidewire-engaging portion (122) and a slit (28) extending proximally along a wall of the guide tube, from a distal end (32) of the tube, a proximal end (29) of the slit being located distally to a proximal end (30) of the tube. A first stent (52) surrounds the tube and is advanceable together with the tube into a lumen of a subject, the first stent being slidably advanceable off the distal end of the tube; and a second stent (54), proximal to the first stent, surrounding a proximal portion of the tube, and advanceable off the distal end of the tube into the lumen, and placed alongside the first stent subsequently to advancement of the first stent off the distal end of the tube. Other applications are also described.

A tubular indwelling device 1 is placed inside a living body lumen and defines a tubular flow path, the tubular indwelling device comprising: a skeleton part 10; a membrane part 20; and a shape retention part 30. The skeleton part 10 includes a body part 11 which can expand/contract along the radial direction of the tubular indwelling device 1. The membrane part 20 is provided along the body part 11, and includes a protruding part 22 that protrudes from a tube end part 11a so as to create a tapered shape in which a flow path cross-section area on a distal end side spaced apart from the tube end part 11a is smaller than a flow path cross-section area on a base end side which is the tube end part 11a side of the body part 11. The shape retention part 30 retains the shape of a flow outlet 23 of the protruding part 22.

A stent is disclosed that has an elongated body composed of a bioabsorbable polymer having a proximal end, a distal end, two open spiral channels formed on the exterior surface of the body to provide fluid communication between the proximal end and the distal end. The stent also has a central lumen open at the proximal and distal ends of the stent for the passage of a guide wire. A method for using the stent and a kit containing the stent are also disclosed.

A stent delivery apparatus includes a guide catheter through which a guide wire is inserted, a pusher catheter including a first lumen through which the guide catheter is inserted and a first communication hole communicating with the first lumen, a stent including a second lumen through which the guide catheter is inserted and a second communication hole communicating with the second lumen and disposed on a distal side of the pusher catheter, and a thread that connects the stent and the pusher catheter to each other in a releasable manner, wherein the thread has a first end portion that through the first communication hole, an intermediate portion that through the second communication hole, and a second end portion that extends around a part of the guide catheter located between a proximal end of the stent and a distal end of the pusher catheter.

A bioabsorbable stent system may comprise one or more bioabsorbable stents and one or more restoration agents, wherein the one or more restoration agents are suitable for a targeting position and are coated on the surface of the bioabsorbable stent. A bioabsorbable stent system may comprise one or more bioabsorbable stents and one or more bioabsorbable films, wherein the bioabsorbable films are loaded with restoration agents and/or drugs suitable for a targeting position.