Patent ID: 8057461

Claim:
A stent, comprising: an elongated member defining a lumen extending at least partially therethrough and having a length sufficient to extend substantially along an entire length of a ureter of a patient, the elongated member including a proximal end and a distal end; a plurality of flexible segments each including a first end and a second end, the first end of at least one flexible segment of the plurality of flexible segments disposed adjacent the proximal end of the elongated member, the at least one of the plurality of flexible segments being biased towards a first position in which the at least one flexible segment extends from the proximal end of the elongated member such that the second end of the at least one flexible segment is disposed distal of the first end of the at least one flexible segment and proximal of the distal end of the elongated member and in which at least a portion of the at least one flexible segment is orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the elongated member, the plurality of flexible segments are configured to move between the first position and a second position, the at least one flexible segment being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongated member such that the first end of the at least one flexible segment is disposed distal of the second end of the at least one flexible segment and proximal of the distal end of the elongated member when the plurality of flexible segments are in the second position, the plurality of flexible segments defining an outer diameter that is not greater than an outer diameter of the elongate member when the plurality of flexible segments are in the second position; and a retention structure disposed adjacent the distal end of the elongated member, the retention structure having a coiled shape configured to retain a portion of the stent within a kidney when the stent is placed within the patient.