Patent ID: 7914516

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: an elongated member having a distal end and a proximal end, the elongated member extending along a longitudinal axis, the elongated member defining a lumen extending through at least a portion of the elongated member; a first retention structure extending from the elongated member, the first retention structure including a flexible material and an elastic member embedded within the flexible material, the first retention structure having a first configuration and a second configuration, the first retention structure extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis when the first retention structure is in its first configuration, the first retention structure being configured to help anchor the apparatus within a body of a patient when the first retention structure is in its second configuration, the first retention structure including at least two laterally protruding arms extending from the elongated member along a lateral axis relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongated member when the retention structure is in its second configuration, the arms being collapsible and enabling the first retention structure to extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis when the first retention structure is in its first configuration, the first retention structure being biased towards the second configuration; and a second retention structure, the second retention structure having a first configuration and a second configuration, the second retention structure extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis when the second retention structure is in its first configuration, the second retention structure being configured to help anchor the apparatus within the body of the patient when the second retention structure is in its second configuration, the first retention structure extending from the proximal end of the elongated member, the second retention structure extending from the distal end of the elongated member.