Patent ID: 8911450

Claim:
A device for decompressing a ureteral stone in a ureter, said device comprising: a guidewire having a distal tip; and an anchor attached to the guidewire immediately proximal to the distal tip; wherein the anchor is configured to compact axially and expand radially outwardly within the ureter as the anchor is drawn proximally by the guidewire; wherein the guidewire includes a distal section and a proximal section which is detachable from the distal section; wherein the expanded anchor is configured to engage and anchor against a distal side of the stone to hold the distal section of the guide member in place within the ureter when the distal section is detached from the proximal section; wherein a proximal portion of the distal section is configured to assume a pigtail shape after the distal section has been detached from the proximal section; and wherein the body of the distal section of the guide member proximal of the anchor is configured to remain between the ureteral stone and a wall of the ureter to create a leakage path past the stone.