A catheter is described for use in cannulating a bile duct in ERCP or sphincterotomy procedures. The catheter has a continuous compound curve that has first and second curves. The first and second curves have radii of curvature and lengths that orient the tip of the catheter selectively toward a bile duct.

Disclosed are various embodiments for improved surgical devices and methods of using the same in connection with bariatric and gastroesophageal surgery. The present disclosure includes a lighted bougie device that can include an elongate member and a light source. The light source can be configured to emit near-infrared light. The light source can also be positioned about the bougie such that light emitted from the light source illuminates along a portion of the bougie.

In various aspects, the present disclosure pertains to methods of treating or preventing bleeding at a tissue site comprising applying a chitosan powder composition to the tissue site. In various aspects, the present disclosure pertains to chitosan powder compositions for application to a tissue site, where the powder compositions comprise a chitosan salt, a crosslinked chitosan, a derivatized chitosan, or a combination thereof. In various aspects, the disclosure pertains to catheter assemblies, which are preloaded with a chitosan powder composition and which are configured to deliver the chitosan powder composition a tissue site.

Embodiments of the invention provide swallowable devices, preparations and methods for delivering drugs and other therapeutic agents within the GI tract. Particular embodiments provide a swallowable device such as a capsule for delivering drugs into the intestinal wall or other GI lumen. Embodiments also provide various drug preparations that are configured to be contained within the capsule, advanced from the capsule into the intestinal wall and degrade within the wall to release the drug to produce a therapeutic effect. The preparation can be coupled to a delivery mechanism having one or more balloons or other expandable devices which are expandable responsive to a condition in the small intestine or other GI lumen to advance the preparation out of the capsule into the intestinal wall. Embodiments of the invention are particularly useful for the delivery of drugs which are poorly absorbed, tolerated and/or degraded within the GI tract.

A medical tube 10 (drain tube 10) includes a main shaft tube 20, a flow path opening/closing mechanism 40, and a branch tube 30. The main shaft tube 20 internally has a main shaft side distal opening 21a and a main shaft lumen 21. The flow path opening/closing mechanism 40 brings the main shaft lumen 21 into a communicating state by applying pressure smaller than predetermined pressure, and brings the main shaft lumen 21 into a blocked state by applying pressure equal to or greater than the predetermined pressure. The branch tube 30 promotes a pancreatic juice pj to flow into a branch lumen 31, based on the applied pressure which is equal to or greater than the predetermined pressure.

A double-balloon catheter device for gastrointestinal anastomosis. The double-balloon catheter device for gastrointestinal anastomosis includes a liquid injection assembly, a double-balloon assembly, and a supporting device (15) connecting the liquid injection assembly and the double-balloon assembly. The liquid injection assembly includes a first balloon liquid injection connection port (2), a guide wire connection port (3), and a second balloon liquid injection connection port (4). The double-balloon assembly includes a double-balloon catheter device (5), and includes a first balloon (6) and a second balloon (7) that can expand-and that are respectively disposed on the two ends of the double-balloon catheter device (5). The double-balloon catheter device (5) is provided with a first balloon liquid injection channel (51), a guide wire channel (52), and a second balloon liquid injection channel (53).

Embodiments of the invention provide swallowable devices, preparations and methods for delivering drugs and other therapeutic agents (TA) within the GI tract and in particular to an antrum wall (AW). Particular embodiments provide a swallowable device (SD) such as a capsule for delivering drugs or other TA into the AW. The SD may contain a pressure sensitive component or assembly which triggers release and insertion of a therapeutic agent preparation (TAP) comprising at least one TA into the AW in response to external pressure, such as pressure applied to the swallowable capsule or other SD by antrum contractions. Particular embodiments of the SD may be shaped so that they self-align within an antrum to properly orient before injection of the TAP into the AW. Embodiments of the invention are particularly useful for orally delivering drugs or other TAs which are degraded within the GI tract and require parenteral injection.

Embodiments of the invention provide swallowable devices, preparations, and methods for delivering drugs and other therapeutic agents within the GI tract. Particular embodiments provide a swallowable device such as a capsule for delivering drugs or other therapeutic agents (TA) into a wall of the GI tract such as the stomach or small intestine. The swallowable device comprises a sensor, a combustible propellant (CP) and a therapeutic agent preparation (TAP) comprising at least one TA. The sensor triggers the CP to ignite and propel the TAP into the wall of the GI tract in response to an external condition or change in external condition. Embodiments of the invention are particularly useful for orally delivering drugs or other TAs which are degraded within the GI tract and require parenteral injection.

Devices for palliating gastrointestinal strictures using rapid exchange type enteral stent placement catheters. The catheter may include an inner member and an outer member, with the two members being slidable with respect to one another. In various device embodiments, a ramp for directing a guidewire out from within the catheter is provided using portions of the outer member or a shaped mandrel. The inner member may take a number of forms, including a tubular distal portion, a skived or integrally attached elongate midsection, and a proximal portion. A mandrel can be used in a portion proximal of the guidewire ramp, with the mandrel taking one of several disclosed forms.

A rectal injection device and a method of operating a rectal injection device. In one embodiment, the device includes: (1) a handle having a trigger associated therewith, (2) an extension tube extending from the handle and terminating in a head, (3) at least two needles coupled to the head and configured to move relative thereto between a retracted position and a deployed position and (4) a pullrod coupling the trigger and the needles and configured to cause the needles to move.