An implant configured for ingestion by a patient. After the implant has been swallowed by the patient and is disposed within the target location, e.g. the patient's stomach, an inflation subcomponent causes the implant to expand from a compact delivery state to an expanded, volume-occupying, deployed state. In the deployed state the implant creates a sensation of satiety in the patient stomach and thereby aids in limiting food intake and obesity. After a predetermined time a deflation subcomponent is actuated and the implant reduces in size so as to allow it to pass through the remainder of the patient's digestive track. The device may further incorporate tracking and visualization subcomponents, as well as pharmaceutical delivery subcomponents.

A catheter 100 is comprised of a shaft 120 having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end being the end an end of the catheter 100 to be placed within the bladder 105, the proximal end being the end of the catheter 100 to be coupled to the inputs outside of the body, the shaft 120 having at least three discrete lumens, the at least three lumens including an inflation lumen 124, the inflation lumen 124 in fluid communication with an inflation side hole 130 in the shaft 120. The shaft has a drug delivery lumen 122, the drug delivery lumen 122 in fluid communication with a drug fluid side hole 128 in the shaft 120. The shaft has a bladder fluid lumen 126, the bladder fluid lumen 126 in fluid communication with a bladder drainage aperture 132 in the shaft 120, wherein distally refers to a distal reference direction 101 towards the elements to be placed in the bladder, and proximally refers to a proximal reference direction 103 towards inputs that remain outside of the body, wherein drug delivery lumen 122, the inflation lumen 124, and the bladder fluid lumen 126 are not in fluid communication.

Provided are a package of a mounting jig mounted balloon and a balloon mounting method capable of reducing the burden of an operation of mounting a balloon in an insertion part of an endoscope. A balloon includes a first sleeve part, a second sleeve part, and a balloon main body. A balloon mounting jig is formed to be folded flat in a hollow cylindrical shape, and has a main body having a first opening part and a second opening part, and a pair of guide pieces that is provided on the second opening part and face each other. A package of a mounting jig mounted balloon is configured so that the balloon mounting jig and the balloon are contained in the container, in which in the container, the balloon is disposed so that the second sleeve part is disposed inside the folded balloon main body and the pair of guide pieces is disposed inside the first sleeve part and the second sleeve part.

A cage can be positioned around a medical balloon, such as an angioplasty balloon, to assist in a medical procedure. The cage can include a plurality of strips, each extending between a set of rings including first and second rings. As the balloon expands, the first and second rings move closer together and allow the strips to expand outward. The cage may have wedge dissectors on the strips.

A fiber-reinforced is medical balloon includes a cylindrical central portion. The balloon includes first and second conical portions connected to the cylindrical central portion along a central longitudinal axis extending from a first end of the balloon to a second end of the balloon. The balloon includes a plurality of first fiber strands extending from the first end of the balloon to the second end of the balloon. Each strand of the plurality of first fiber strands runs substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis through the cylindrical central portion and radially around at least a portion of the first and second conical portions. The balloon includes at least one second fiber strand extending radially around the central portion. The strands are applied as part of a single continuous fiber.

A neurovascular catheter is provided, such as for distal neurovascular access or aspiration. The catheter includes an elongate flexible tubular body, having a proximal end, a distal end and a side wall defining a central lumen. A distal zone of the tubular body includes a tubular inner liner, a tie layer separated from the lumen by the inner liner, a helical coil surrounding the tie layer, an outer jacket surrounding the helical coil, and an opening at the distal end. Adjacent windings of the helical coil are spaced progressively further apart in the distal direction. The opening at the distal end of the tubular body is enlargeable from a first inside diameter for transluminal navigation to a second, larger inside diameter to facilitate aspiration of thrombus into the lumen.

A coating for an expandable portion of a catheter comprising a lipophilic matrix and a plurality of micro-reservoirs dispersed in the lipophilic matrix is disclosed. The plurality of micro-reservoirs comprises an active agent. A coating formulation and a method for forming the coating are also disclosed. A catheter comprising the coating on the expandable portion and a method for treating a condition are also provided.

A balloon catheter having an elongated catheter shaft defining a fluid drainage lumen and a balloon inflation lumen. The balloon catheter includes a fluid drainage port disposed about the distal end of the catheter shaft in fluid communication with the fluid drainage lumen, and a balloon inflation port disposed about the distal end of the catheter shaft in fluid communication with the balloon inflation lumen. A balloon portion is disposed about the distal end of the catheter shaft in fluid communication with the balloon inflation port. A release device is disposed in fluid communication with the balloon portion and the fluid drainage lumen, and includes an activating member. A tether is attached to the activating member of the release device. Tension applied to the tether activates the release device, enabling fluid flow from the balloon portion into the fluid drainage lumen and out of the body.

A method of treating a patient's joint having opposing joint surfaces includes providing an elongate member having a proximal end, a distal end and an expandable member near the distal end. The expandable member is positioned in the joint between the joint surfaces and expanded so as to separate the joint surfaces away from one another into a distracted position. The joint is manipulated while in the distracted position so that the joint is distracted and in flexion. A diagnostic or therapeutic procedure is then performed on the joint while maintaining the joint in the flexed and distracted position.

A cage can be positioned around a medical balloon, such as an angioplasty balloon, to assist in a medical procedure. The cage can include a plurality of strips, each extending between a set of rings including first and second rings. As the balloon expands, the first and second rings move closer together and allow the strips to expand outward. The cage may have wedge dissectors on the strips.