A medical device may include an implantable device for treating a body tissue structure. The implantable device may include a wire structure which may include a wave pattern. The wire structure may be elastic so as to provide a pressure around the body tissue structure such that the pressure may change with movement of the body tissue structure.

The present disclosure relates generally to stents and methods for managing passage of material through a body lumen. In some embodiments, a medical stent may include a stent body defined by a hollow tubular elongate structure extending along a central axis, the stent body including a first portion and a second portion. The medical stent may further include a control region between the first and second portions, wherein in a first configuration the hollow tubular elongate structure of the control region is in a closed, twisted configuration, and wherein in a second configuration the hollow tubular elongate structure of the control region is in an open, expanded configuration.

The present disclosure relates to treatment of reflux disease of a human patient. More particularly, a device is disclosed, which is configured to be implanted in the body of the human to restrict movement of the cardia of the patient's stomach towards the diaphragm opening into the patient's thorax, and/or to prevent stomach contents from passing from the stomach into the esophagus.

Devices and methods are described for accessing the mediastinum without an intercostal incision and without deflating the lungs. In some embodiments, the devices and methods facilitate mediastinal access via a single percutaneous needle puncture. In some embodiments, a first puncture below the ribs or sternum, and a second puncture that is intercostal are used. Devices and methods to facilitate concurrent access to the pericardial and mediastinal spaces are also described. Multiple minimally invasive procedures are described that advantageously utilize the pericardial and mediastinal space access procedures.

An improved gastroesophageal reflux preventer and related methods are provided. The improved gastroesophageal reflux preventer may include an absorbable material able to be placed in contact with a body organ and configured to induce a scarification of the body organ in response to absorption by the body organ of the material. In this manner, a proximate sphincter may be tightened, such as to ameliorate reflux through a gastroesophageal sphincter.

There is provided with a method. A cardia and a pylorus of a stomach of a patient is blocked. The stomach is inflated. The stomach is secured within an abdominal cavity of the patient.

An apparatus includes a plurality of beads. Each bead includes a housing and a magnet positioned within the housing. The apparatus also includes a plurality of interconnection elements. Each interconnection element movably joins together a corresponding pair of beads. The plurality of beads and the plurality of interconnection elements are sized and configured to form an expandable loop around an anatomical structure in a patient. The expandable loop is configured to apply a constrictive force to the anatomical structure. The constrictive force has a first rate of change when a dilation ratio of the expandable loop is within a first range, a second rate of change when the dilation ratio of the expandable loop is within a second range, and a third rate of change when the dilation ratio of the expandable loop is within a third range.

An apparatus includes at least one link and a plurality of beads. The plurality of beads is joined using the at least one link and is configured to be arranged in an annular arrangement. The annular arrangement is sized and configured to form a loop around an anatomical structure in a patient. The annular arrangement is configured to move between a contracted configuration and an expanded configuration. The loop in the contracted configuration is configured to prevent fluid flow through the anatomical structure. Each bead includes a housing, a magnet contained within the housing, and a secondary element that is different from the magnet. The magnet is configured to emit a magnetic field. The magnets of the plurality of beads are configured to magnetically bias the loop toward the contracted configuration. The secondary element is contained within the housing and is configured to increase the magnetic field of the magnet.

An apparatus includes a plurality of beads and a plurality of interconnection elements. Each bead includes a housing and a magnet. Each interconnection element includes a main body extending between a pair of ends, and a pair of heads each positioned at a respective end and received within a bead. The beads and interconnection elements are sized and configured to form a loop configured to transition between constricted and expanded configurations. The apparatus is configured such that, when the loop is in the expanded configuration, a first head of a first interconnection element is received within a first bead and is spaced apart from a first centerline of the first bead by a first distance, and a second head of a second interconnection element is received within a second bead and is spaced apart from a second centerline of the second bead by a second distance.

An apparatus includes a plurality of beads. Each bead of the plurality of beads includes a housing and a magnet positioned within the at least one housing. The apparatus also includes a plurality of interconnection elements. Each interconnection element movably joins together a corresponding pair of beads. Each interconnection element includes a composite material. The plurality of beads and the plurality of interconnection elements are sized and configured to form a loop around an anatomical structure in a patient. The loop formed by the plurality of beads and the plurality of interconnection elements is configured to transition between a constricted configuration and an expanded configuration. The loop in the constricted configuration is configured to prevent fluid flow through the anatomical structure. The loop in the expanded configuration is configured to permit fluid flow through the anatomical structure. The magnets are configured to magnetically bias the loop toward the constricted configuration.