Disclosed is an endo-urethral catheter for a male subject. The catheter includes a tube and two balloons. The tube includes a lumen extending there along, an opening(s) on a tube distal section, and a valve positioned in the lumen. A first balloon is disposed about the tube distal section proximally to the opening(s). A second balloon is positioned proximally to the first balloon and distally to the valve. The catheter is configured to be deployed in the urinary system such that the first balloon is positioned in the bladder neck, and the second balloon is positioned adjacently and proximally to the urinary sphincter, thereby anchoring the catheter. The valve is configured to be controllably opened and shut, such as to respectively fluidly couple and decouple the bladder to the proximal end of the tube, thereby allowing the subject to controllably expel urine.

Systems, devices, and methods are provided for the delivery of an implant into the prostatic urethra. Embodiments of delivery systems can include a delivery device for insertion into the patient and a proximal control device for use in controlling release of the implant from the delivery device.

Tubular propulsion devices and systems and methods for using such devices and systems to restore, replace, or augment or otherwise modulate active transport of fluids through a diseased or damaged tubular organ or organ segment are described. The devices have a hollow center surrounded by a peripheral wall. The devices can be multilayer devices. The devices may be single tube devices or multi-section devices. Typically, elements for altering the structure of the device, such as via compression, expansion, twisting, and/or contraction of one or more sections of the peripheral wall, are included in the walls or are outside or inside, of the walls of the device. The devices undergo intermittent change of the contained volume (luminal volume) in a sequential manner to direct fluid flow. In use, the devices are able to serve as local mini- or regional-pumps.

Extra-urethral implants and methods of use are disclosed. Implants can treat disorders or diseases of the prostate by, for example, enlarging the lumen of the prostatic urethra.

One or more sensors are incorporated onto one or more of an implantable device and a surgical tool used for placement and/or adjustment of the implantable device. The implantable device includes an adjustable membrane element for controllable coaptation of a body lumen, such as coaptation of a urethra as treatment for urinary incontinence. In various embodiments, the one or more sensors can be configured to detect information indicative of at least one of a shape of the adjustable membrane element, a position of the adjustable membrane element relative to the body lumen, or a shape of the body lumen.

One or more sensors are incorporated onto one or more of an implantable device and a surgical tool used for placement and/or adjustment of the implantable device. The implantable device includes an adjustable membrane element for controllable coaptation of a body lumen, such as coaptation of a urethra as treatment for urinary incontinence. In various embodiments, the one or more sensors can be configured to detect information indicative of at least one of a shape of the adjustable membrane element, a position of the adjustable membrane element relative to the body lumen, or a shape of the body lumen.

A grasping tool (20) for removing a stent from the body of a patient. The grasping tool has a grasping head (38) forming two jaws connected to each other and configured to be shifted between an open state and a closed state. Each jaw includes three portions having different thicknesses. The grasping tool is configured to obtain sufficient holding force between the jaws while requiring reduced operating force of the tool. A method for removing a stent from a patient is also disclosed.

A method for removing fluid from a patient is provided, the method including: deploying a ureteral stent or ureteral catheter into a ureter of a patient to maintain patency of fluid flow between a kidney and a bladder of the patient; deploying a bladder catheter into the bladder of the patient, wherein the bladder catheter comprises a distal end configured to be positioned in a patient's bladder, a drainage lumen portion having a proximal end, and a sidewall extending therebetween; and applying negative pressure to the proximal end of the bladder catheter to induce negative pressure in a portion of the urinary tract of the patient to remove fluid from the patient. Systems and kits related thereto also are provided.

Sphincter reinforcement devices are described. Sphincter reinforcement devices may be configured to be placed at least partially around a bodily passage at or near a sphincter. In one embodiment, a sphincter reinforcement device may comprise a ring including a tubular structure. The ring may be expandable. The tubular structure may be hollow. The tubular structure may have a first end and a second end. The first end may be configured to be coupled to the second end. The tubular structure may include a braided material.

Improved urinary catheters are described. One example urinary catheter includes a catheter shaft with an internal lumen, extending between a distal discharge opening and a proximal drainage opening, arranged at a proximal tip of the catheter shaft. An overcoat layer encircles a portion of the catheter shaft, forming a closed deformable fluid filled cavity intermediate the overcoat layer and the outer surface of the shaft. The overcoat layer is elastically deformable to allow for movement of the fluid within the cavity during deployment. At least a portion at the proximal end is arranged to be compressed to a smaller diameter during insertion, and upon continued insertion of the catheter shaft through the urethra into at least the bladder neck, arranged to expand back toward a greater diameter, as the fluid is caused to flow toward the proximal end of the fluid filled cavity.