The present disclosure relates to the field of endoscopy. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to systems and methods which allow the distal portion of a catheter to be visualized within the body using a colored marker and one or more secondary markers. In particular, the present disclosure relates to systems and methods which indicate when a medical device is properly positioned for deployment within a body lumen.

Tissue anchors, kits that include a tissue anchor, and methods of anchoring tissue to a bone are described. An example embodiment of a tissue anchor includes a screw and a stem releasably attached to the screw. The screw defines a first opening, a second opening, and a lumen that extends from the first opening to the second opening. A portion of the stem is sized and configured to be received within the lumen defined by the screw.

A system for identifying intracanalicular plugs, wherein the plugs are packaged in holders in a box which contains the plugs optionally packaged in a pouch is provided, whereby identification and tracking of hard-to-identify plugs are facilitated. The package, pouch, holders are marked with plug characteristic indicators such as absorption time and drug substance contained therein, brand indicators and other characteristics of the plugs. An array of such identifiably packaged plugs with different characteristics are also provided.

Improvements for use with tissue expanders are provided. A first aspect includes a tissue expander device provided with a colorant inside a shell before the shell is inflated with fluid, wherein the colorant mixes with fluid upon injection of fluid into the shell. A second aspect includes a tissue expander device provided with a tread on an exterior surface of the shell. A third aspect includes a system having: a computing device with a visual display screen; a detector connected to the computing device that is configured to detect a port of a tissue expander that is implanted under skin of a patient; and software running on the computing device that receives signals from the detector and causes the visual display screen to show a visual representation of a location of the detected port of the tissue expander.

An implant for insertion through a punctum and into a canalicular lumen of a patient. The implant includes a matrix of material, a therapeutic agent dispersed in the matrix of material, a sheath disposed over a portion of the matrix of material and configured to inhibit the therapeutic agent from being released from the matrix of material into the canalicular lumen and to allow the therapeutic agent to be released from a surface of the matrix of material to a tear film, and a retention structure configured to retain the implant within the canalicular lumen.

An implantable device includes a hollow biocompatible shell and filling material. The shell is configured to be implanted in an organ of a patient. The filling material is configured to fill the shell so as to assume a specified shape of the implantable device, and is visually distinguished from tissue of the organ that surrounds the implantable device.

The present disclosure relates to the field of endoscopy. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to systems and methods which allow the distal portion of a catheter to be visualized within the body using a colored marker and one or more secondary markers. In particular, the present disclosure relates to systems and methods which indicate when a medical device is properly positioned for deployment within a body lumen.

An implant for insertion through a punctum and into a canalicular lumen of a patient. The implant includes a matrix of material, a therapeutic agent dispersed in the matrix of material, a sheath disposed over a portion of the matrix of material and configured to inhibit the therapeutic agent from being released from the matrix of material into the canalicular lumen and to allow the therapeutic agent to be released from a surface of the matrix of material to a tear film, and a retention structure configured to retain the implant within the canalicular lumen.

A method of inserting an intervertebral disc implant into a disc space includes accessing a spinal segment having a first vertebral body, a second vertebral body and a disc space between the first and second vertebral bodies. The method includes securing a first pin to the first vertebral body and a second pin to the second vertebral body, using the first and second pins for distracting the disc space, and providing an inserter holding the intervertebral disc implant. The method also desirably includes engaging the inserter with the first and second pins, and advancing the inserter toward the disc space for inserting the intervertebral disc implant into the disc space, whereby the first and second pins align and guide the inserter toward the disc space.

A system of prosthetic implants for a total knee replacement procedure is provided. The system includes a tibial component of a knee joint implant, a tibial insert configured to be positioned against the superior side of the platform of the tibial component, a first femoral component of a knee joint implant, and a second femoral component of a knee joint implant.