Patent classifications
A61F2/00
Male Urinary Incontinence Device
A male urinary incontinence device includes a circumferential band including a securing end, an elongated portion, and a receiving end, the circumferential band including a plurality of securing protuberances and the receiving end including a receiving aperture having an outer diameter, an inner diameter, and an inner aperture; a ventral base including a ventral base aperture and a plurality of protuberances located on the exterior and interior surface of the ventral base; a dorsal base including a lower dorsal bar, a dorsal base aperture, and at least one lateral dorsal flange with the at least one lateral dorsal flange having at least one lateral flange notch.
Methods and apparatus for treating body tissue sphincters and the like
A plurality of structures that resiliently attract one another are provided for implanting in a patient around a body tissue structure of the patient. For example, the body tissue structure may be the esophagus, and the plurality of structures may be implanted in an annulus around the outside of the esophagus, the annulus being substantially coaxial with the esophagus. The attraction may be between annularly adjacent ones of the structures in the annulus, and it may be provided, for example, by magnets or springs. The array of structures is preferably self-limiting with respect to the smallest area that it can encompass, and this smallest area is preferably large enough to prevent the apparatus from applying excessive pressure to tissue passing through that area.
Corneal implant systems and methods
A storage/delivery device includes a first wall defining a well configured to receive a corneal tissue. The storage/delivery device includes a second wall configured to be positioned over the first wall and to seal the well. The second wall includes a recess configured to extend into the well to define a chamber between the first wall and the second wall. The chamber is configured to hold the corneal tissue when the second wall seals the well. A system may include the storage/delivery device above and a measurement system configured to measure the corneal tissue disposed in the well. In one example embodiment, the measurement system is an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system. In another example embodiment, the measurement system is a second-harmonic generation (SHG) or third-harmonic generation (THG) microscopy system.
Method and apparatus for monitoring implantable device for urinary continence
One or more sensors are incorporated onto one or more of an implantable device and a surgical tool used for placement and/or adjustment of the implantable device. The implantable device includes an adjustable membrane element for controllable coaptation of a body lumen, such as coaptation of a urethra as treatment for urinary incontinence. In various embodiments, the one or more sensors can be configured to detect information indicative of at least one of a shape of the adjustable membrane element, a position of the adjustable membrane element relative to the body lumen, or a shape of the body lumen.
Urinary catheter prostheses
A user-controllable urinary catheter prosthesis (20) is provided for minimally-invasive insertion into a subject. The prosthesis (20) includes a proximal intra-urethral assembly (22), configured to be inserted entirely within a urethra (102) via a meatus (104). A user-activatable hydraulic activator (50) is disposed along a flexible intra-urethral catheter (30, 430), which is shaped so as to define a urinary outlet (40, 440) at a proximal end (41, 441) thereof. A distal bladder assembly (32, 132, 232, 332) is configured to be disposed in a bladder of the subject, and includes a bladder anchor (48). A hydraulic valve (60, 160, 260, 360) is configured to assume an open state, in which urine flow is allowed between the distal bladder assembly (32, 132, 232, 332) and the urinary outlet (40, 440); and a closed resting state, in which urine is entirely blocked from entering the distal bladder assembly (32, 132, 232, 332) and exiting the urinary outlet (40, 440). Application of pressure to the hydraulic activator (50) transitions the hydraulic valve (60, 160, 260, 360) from the closed resting state to the open state. Other embodiments are also described.
System and method for increasing a cross-sectional area of a body lumen
Devices and methods are disclosed for managing and/or treating body tissues obstructing a hollow body lumen, such as the prostatic lobe tissues obstructing the urethra. A scaffolding may be provided with opposing tissue-engaging portions and at least one expansion member configured to transition between a compressed configuration having a reduced distance between the tissue-engaging portions and a deployed configuration having an increased distance between the tissue-engaging portions.
COMPLIANT SCAFFOLD
A compliant scaffold incorporates a plurality of elongated apertures that form a geometric pattern enabling biaxial expansion or contraction. An elongated aperture has a pair of nodes located on opposing sides of the aperture and between a pair of antinodes located on the extended and opposing ends of the elongated aperture. A geometric pattern may have various geometric shapes, or tiles, between the plurality of apertures. The geometric tiles have a bounded perimeter formed by the plurality of elongated apertures. A substantial portion of the elongated apertures may be configured with the antinodes proximal to one of said pair of nodes of a separate elongated aperture; wherein the antinodes are closer to one of the pair of nodes than to any other antinode. This unique arrangement of the elongated apertures may be formed in biological material in vivo or ex vivo.
Midline Marker For Sling Implant
A sling assembly for treatment of stress urinary incontinence may comprise a midline marker, a sling, and a sleeve. The midline marker identifies the midpoint of the protective sleeve when it is installed on a transparent surface of the sleeve. The protective sleeve comprises a clear transparent surface and a colored opaque surface. During a procedure, the colored opaque surface of the sleeve provides contrast between the surfaces of the sleeve to identify any twisting present throughout the length of the sleeve. The clear transparent surface of the sleeve forms a channel at the center of the midline marker when the transparent surface of the sleeve is wrapped over the body of the midline marker. The channel is large enough for a surgical instrument to be inserted and cut the transparent surface to separate the sleeve from the midline marker after installation of the sling at a desired location.
Finger-splinting sheath device and method
A finger-splinting sheath device is provided for use as a self-treatment aid in assisting a bowel in a patient suffering from complications of pelvic organ prolapse, namely rectocele. The finger-splinting sheath device generally includes a monolithic molded body including a flange-element, and a sheath-element having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the sheath-element is coupled to the flange-element at the proximal end and is closed at the distal end. The sheath-element generally includes an elliptical cross-section configured to receive two-fingers therein, wherein the sheath-element functions to splint the two fingers during use. A method for using the device includes inserting the device with two fingers within the sheath-element into the vagina and applying pressure to the vaginal walls to assist a bowel movement.
Driver for a bone screw
In accordance to one aspect of the present disclosure, a driver for a bone screw is provided that includes an inner shaft and a distal drive head of the inner shaft. The drive head is configured to fit in a drive recess of a bone screw to form a mating connection therewith. The driver further includes at least one outer, resilient locking member shiftable along the inner shaft from a proximal, unlocked position to a distal, locked position. The resilient locking member has a locking portion that contacts and is urged outwardly by a proximal ramp surface of the drive head as the locking member shifts distally from the unlocked position to the locked position to secure the bone screw onto the drive head.