A Coude catheter insures proper drainage and reduces tissue damage by using a loop section having an open passageway positioned on a proximal end of the catheter to adjust the catheter.

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.

The invention relates to a detection system of an endo-urethral device for an artificial urinary sphincter implantable in the body of a patient, said sphincter comprising an occlusive cuff (2) adapted to compress the urethra, the bladder neck or the prostate of said patient, an activation device (5) of said cuff (2) and a control unit (6) adapted to control the activation device. Said system comprises at least one compression sensor (13) of the urethra and a posture sensor (9), and a processing unit (30) configured to determine: (i) if the compression parameter of the urethra exceeds a predetermined threshold during a predetermined period, (ii) if the patient is in a recumbent position. If the conditions (i) and (ii) are fulfilled, the processing unit sends to the activation device (5) an immediate reduction order of the compression exerted by the cuff (2).

An apparatus is configured to be implanted within a biological structure. The apparatus includes a plurality of magnetic elements, an absorbable component, and a non-absorbable component. The plurality of magnetic elements are configured to transition the biological structure between an occluded state and an opened state. The plurality of magnetic elements are biased to encourage the biological structure toward the occluded state. The absorbable component includes a therapeutic substance. The absorbable component is configured to temporarily couple the plurality of magnetic elements with the biological structure when the apparatus is initially implanted within the biological structure.

A convertible nephroureteral catheter is used in the treatment of urinary system complications, particularly on the need for a single surgically delivered device to treat patients who must be seen by an interventional radiologist (IR). In many current procedures, patients need to return to the operating room to remove a previously delivered nephroureteral catheter to exchange this catheter with a fully implanted ureteral stent delivered though the same access site at the flank. The present convertible nephroureteral catheter reduces the need to return for a second surgical procedure. Two weeks after initial implantation, the proximal portion of the convertible nephroureteral catheter extending out from the body may simply be removed. A simple action at the catheter hub allows this proximal portion to be removed, leaving behind the implanted ureteral stent within the patient's urinary system. Other medical procedures, devices, and technologies may benefit from the described convertible catheter.

An indwelling urethral device is described that includes an elongated tubular member extending along a longitudinal axis (L) from a distal inlet end portion, via an intermediate portion, to a proximal outlet end portion, the tubular member defining a lumen extending along the longitudinal axis between the distal inlet end portion and the proximal outlet end portion, the distal end portion of the elongated tubular member comprising a plurality of urine inlet openings, at least a part of the distal end portion being preconfigured to be reversibly transformable between a linear state for passage through the urethra when inserted there through and a preconfigured coiled state for anchored receipt within the bladder in the use position. The plurality of urine inlet openings is provided on the interior spiral section and urine inlet openings are absent on the exterior spiral section.

An implantable device including a matrix and a zinc-containing layer at least partially covering the substrate. The zinc-containing layer includes a zinc compound. The ratio of the mass of the zinc element in the zinc-containing layer to the surface area of the implantable device is 0.1-200 g/mm2. The average porosity of the zinc-containing layer is 30% or less. By matching the ratio of the mass of zinc in the zinc-containing layer to the surface area of the implantable device with the average porosity of the zinc-containing layer, the release rate of zinc is controlled within a reasonable range so that the rate of formation of the zinc-containing substance is controlled such that the concentration of the zinc-containing substance accumulated in the tissue is higher than the concentration which inhibits the proliferation of smooth muscle cells, and is always lower than the toxic concentration which causes cell death.

The present invention relates to a stent delivery device having: a first support rod into which a first movable body is inserted; a fixed magnet; and a second support rod into which a second movable body is inserted, wherein a first driving magnet included in the first movable body and a second driving magnet included in the second movable body rotate relative to each other by means of the control of an external magnetic field at a predetermined angle around an axis in a first direction with respect to the fixed magnet, thereby separating a first coupling piece and a second coupling piece from a first coupling groove and a second coupling groove and enabling a stent to unfold.

An example medical stent for treating a body lumen is disclosed. The example stent includes an expandable scaffold having a first end region, a second end region and an outer surface. The stent further includes a first fixation member coupled to the expandable scaffold and a biodegradable material disposed along the first fixation member at a first tissue engagement region. Further, the biodegradable material is designed to degrade from a first configuration in which the biodegradable material shields the first fixation member from a target tissue site to a second configuration in which the first fixation member is engaged with the target tissue site.

An implantable biocompatible expander suitable for implantation into a urinary duct, comprises an elongated sinusoidal ring comprising at least two proximal prongs and at least two distal prongs, wherein the expander is resiliently deformable from a relaxed radially expanded orientation to a radially contracted orientation suitable for transluminal delivery through the urinary duct. The expander is configured to exert an outward radial force against a wall of the urinary duct when in-situ within the urinary duct. In particular, the expander is suitable for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and configured for implantation into the prostatic urethra between, and substantially spanning the prostatic urethra between, the bladder neck and external sphincter.