One aspect of the present invention provides a method for the treatment of lithiasis, which mitigates the risk of damage to surrounding body tissue when removing a calculi (e.g., biological concretions, such as urinary, biliary, and pancreatic stones) that obstructs or may otherwise be present within a body's anatomical lumen. In one embodiment, the instant invention provides a method of using a polymer plug to occlude a lumen distal to a calculi, whereby calculi fragments resulting from lithotripsy are prevented from traveling up the lumen. In certain embodiments, a dual lumen catheter is utilized to inject two solutions proximal to the calculi, the mixing of said solutions causing a polymer plug to form.

An anti-retropulsion device comprising: an expandable segment; a distal collar positioned distally of the expandable segment; and a proximal collar positioned proximally of the expandable segment; wherein the expandable segment has a corresponding plurality of expandable members, and wherein each of the expandable members is configured to expand or contract radially and circumferentially in correspondence with a change in spacing between the distal collar and the proximal collar.

A device for occluding an atrial appendage includes a catheter-deliverable epicardial implant that is detachably secured to a delivery device. The implant includes an inflatable cuff that is positionable about the atrial appendage to an extent that, when adjustably inflated, the cuff physiologically occludes the atrial appendage. Such occlusion addresses health risks associated with atrial fibrillation and cardiac rhythm disorder.

Embodiments of the invention provide swallowable devices, preparations and methods for delivering drugs and other therapeutic agents within the GI tract. Many embodiments provide a swallowable device for delivering the agents. 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 to release the drug into the bloodstream to produce a therapeutic effect. The preparation can be operably coupled to delivery means having a first configuration where the preparation is contained in the capsule and a second configuration where the preparation is advanced 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 surgical tool for inserting a spile or plug into the punctal opening of a meatus such as a lacrimo-nasal canaliculus. The tool includes a distal end having a plug-carrying structure which includes distally extending rod for engaging an axial bore in the plug, and an abutment having a radial prominence supporting a penetration-resisting bearing surface which prevents over-insertion of the plug by contacting tissue surrounding the punctal opening. The abutment can be shaped and dimensioned to provide effective and comfortable penetration resistance while affording ample visibility to the surgeon user. The rod can be axially withdrawn through a rod tracking tube having a precisely dimensioned central lumen restricting off-axis movement of the rod. The abutment can be fixed to the rod or detached from it.

A system for delivering an implant within a patient is disclosed. The activation of the heater coil causes the degradation, melting or reduction of a component that brings the heater coil into or out of electrical contact with another component, or causes the individual loops of the coil to contact each other, thereby resulting a notable change in resistance in the circuit supplying the heater coil with electricity. A core wire terminates prior to the distal end of the device, allowing for greater flexibility.

A bariatric clamp may include substrate members overmolded in polymer forming first and second elongated portions, a bight portion having a flexible hinge, one or more inflatable portions disposed at least partially along interior sections of the first and second elongated portions; and a port coupled to at least one of the inflatable portions and configured to adjust inflation of the inflatable portions. The inflatable portions are provided to assist in retaining the clamp in a closed position to partition the stomach and to adjust a pressure of the clamp when partitioning the stomach.

A wound drainage and hemostasis promoting medical device (1) are disclosed. A balloon (15) is temporary inflated and arranged outside a sheath (10), in contact with tissue surrounding a wound cavity for hemostasis promotion. The drainage device comprises a fluid communication channel for wound exudate from wound. The balloon is deflated and retracted into said sheath for removal from said wound cavity. Thus the medical device is percutaneously retractable from said confined wound.

An apparatus for delivery of a device into a hollow organ and a method of delivery are provided. The apparatus includes an elongated tube having proximal and distal openings and being configured for carrying the device on a distal portion thereof. The apparatus further includes a tubular cover for covering at least a portion of the device when mounted on the elongated tube, the tubular cover being radially elastic and axially non-elastic. The tubular cover is retrievable into the elongated tube through the distal opening, such that when the device is mounted on the elongated tube and covered by the tubular cover, retrieval of the tubular cover into the elongated tube uncovers the device for delivery into the hollow organ.

A medical instrument and method is described for facilitating lacrimal occlusion. The instrument has two arms for holding a plug being inserted through the punctum, each arm having a distal end and a proximal end. Attached to the proximal end of the arms is a dilator oriented in the opposite direction along the longitudinal axis of the instrument. The instrument is conveniently rotated in the hand of the practitioner to alternately present the functioning end of the instrument as either the distal end of the arms (for holding a plug) or the distal end of the dilator (for enlarging the punctum prior to attempting to inserting the plug). The instrument has a means for moving the two arms near to each other and away from each, and a means for holding the two arms near to each other without requiring closing pressure applied by the practitioner.