A method for treating OAB in a female patient includes positioning a visualization scope in the patent's vagina; advancing a guide wire through a working channel of a visualization scope, until a tissue penetrating distal tip of the guide wire advances out of the working channel and penetrates a wall of the superior portion of the vagina; continuing to advance the guidewire tip submucosally through the wall of the vagina, until it is positioned within tissue of the bladder trigone; advancing a balloon dilation catheter over the guidewire until a balloon carried on a distal end portion of the balloon dilation catheter is positioned proximate the distal tip of the guidewire within the bladder trigone tissue; and inflating said balloon to form a first dissection plane between separated layers of tissue within the bladder trigone.

Methods and apparatuses for mechanically removing objects from a body. In particular, described herein are thrombectomy methods and mechanical thrombectomy apparatuses for removal of blood clots from within a lumen of a blood vessel.

A needle assembly for pleural space insufflation is disclosed. The needle assembly has an outer shaft defining one or more pliable tissue receivers. The needle assembly also has a needle moveable within the outer shaft from a retracted position to an engaged position that does not extend past a distal end of the outer shaft. A method of pleural space insufflation is also disclosed. A parietal pleura is contacted with a distal end of an outer shaft that defines one or more pliable tissue receivers. The distal end of the outer shaft is pushed against the parietal pleura so that a portion of the parietal pleura enters the one or more pliable tissue receivers. A needle is advanced within the outer shaft so that the needle pierces the parietal pleura.

An obesity treatment apparatus comprises at least one operable stretching device implantable in an obese patient and adapted to stretch a portion of the patient's stomach wall, and an operation device for operating the stretching device when implanted to stretch the stomach wall portion such that satiety is created.

An excision apparatus for removing cellular tissue includes a housing provided with a fixation portion. The fixation portion is configured to be arranged on cellular tissue such that a closed space is formed by the cellular tissue and an inner surface of the fixation portion. The fixation portion is configured to fixedly retain the cellular tissue near the inner surface by removal of air from the closed space via an air evacuating means. The apparatus further includes a cutting element moveably arranged in the housing such that the cutting element is movable between a retracted position and an extended position with respect to the fixation portion. The cutting element includes an electrode arranged at a distal end of the cutting element and is configured for cutting a section of cellular tissue retained by the fixation portion when the cutting element is in the extended position.

An assembly for restoring a gastroesophageal flap valve includes a restoration device substantially free for rotation. The assembly comprises an elongated member configured to be fed through a throat, down an adjoining esophagus and into an associated stomach. The elongated member has a distal end. The assembly further comprises a gastroesophageal flap valve restoration device carried on the distal end of the elongated member for placement in the stomach, and an invaginator carried by the elongated member. The invaginator is configured to grip the esophagus and the elongated member and invaginator are coupled for restricted relative axial movement and substantially free relative rotational movement.

A suturing apparatus comprises an invaginating device secured to a distal end of an endoscope for invaginating two parts of the interior of a wall of a vessel, for example, a stomach to be sutured together to form a gastric sleeve. The invaginating device includes a suction chamber for forming invaginated parts of the interior of the wall of the vessel. A suturing instrument extending through an instrument channel of the endoscope extends into the invaginating device, and is urged into or adjacent the suction chamber for inserting a suture into the invaginated part in the suction chamber. The next invaginated part is then formed, and the suture is inserted into it. The suture is then tightened to draw the two invaginated parts together.

A patient interface system is disclosed for positioning a patient's eye opposite a laser device for laser surgery. The system including a patient interface for coupling to the patient's eye and a patient interface holder for arranging the patient interface on the laser device. The patient interface holder includes a connection device for coupling a camera system. The patient interface holder and the patient interface have corresponding channels that delimit an optical path between the connection device and the patient interface. The channel of the patient interface is arranged such that is runs at least partially on an outer circumference of a suction cup part of the patient interface. Also disclosed are a camera system, a method for coupling a patient interface with a patient interface holder, as well as a patient interface and a patient interface holder, for a patient interface system.

Device and method for implantation of hair grafts into the scalp of a patient. In the device, a cross-sectional shape of a rod riding in an implantation needle is configured with respect to the needle to communicate a vacuum in a chamber anterior to the needle forward to an interior of the needle, thereby facilitating loading of the hair graft into the device by direct-to-needle aspiration of the hair graft.

A binding device for indicating the amount of negative pressure suction to use in a binding operation to treat hemorrhoids. The device is simple and convenient to use, and allows for more accurate binding operations. The binding device has a shell, a pushing pipe at the shell's front end, and a suction tube in the pushing pipe. A negative pressure device is in the shell. A scale cylinder has a cylinder body divided into two cavities and a piston piece within. The negative pressure device has a suction port in communication with the rear end of the suction tube and connected with one of the cylinder cavities. The cylinder body can move relative to the shell, and the shell has a scale part corresponding to that movement. The binding part is sleeved at the front end of the suction tube.