A bowel irrigation system comprising a container adapted for containing a liquid, a catheter comprising an inflated balloon, a tubing connecting the container and the catheter, a pump, a control unit for controlling a flow of fluid in the system, and a pressure sensor is disclosed. The system comprises means for deflating the balloon, as a response to an assessment of a first pressure inside the balloon being greater than a first threshold value, by reducing the amount of liquid inside the balloon by a first amount of liquid. In addition, a method for deflating an inflatable balloon, as a response to an assessment of a first pressure inside the balloon being greater than a first threshold value, by reducing the amount of liquid inside the balloon by a first amount of liquid is disclosed.

The invention relates to a device for transanally introducing an infusion into the rectum or colon of a patient, said device comprising a catheter with a catheter shaft wherein, to ensure the most practicable catheter insertion possible, the catheter shaft is equipped in the proximal, preanal region with gripping depressions to accommodate the fingers gripping the catheter during insertion.

An endoscopy system including a balloon-equipped endoscope including a balloon which is configured for slidable frictional engagement with an interior wall of a body passageway and axial stretching of the interior wall when inflated to a slidable frictional engagement pressure and displaced axially along the body passageway and a balloon inflation subsystem operative to selectably inflate the balloon to the slidable frictional engagement pressure.

Everting balloon systems and methods for using the same are disclosed herein. The systems can be configured to access and dilate body lumen and cavities. For example, the systems can be used to dilate the cervix and access the uterine cavity. The systems can also be used to occlude the cervix. The systems can also be used to occlude the urethra.

A closed suction system module is provided. In one embodiment, the closed suction system module includes a coupling member configured to couple to a suction port of a multi-port manifold or endotracheal tube adapter (e.g., dual-port or tri-port adapter). In one embodiment, the closed suction system module includes a suction catheter configured to clean the interior surfaces of body-inserted tubes or artificial airways (alone or in addition to suctioning natural airways or portions of the respiratory tract or other body lumens). The suction catheter may include a cleaning portion at a distal portion of the suction catheter (e.g., near the distal end or tip of the suction catheter). In some embodiments, the cleaning portion includes at least one expandable cleaning member (e.g., balloon, sleeve, wiper).

Disclosed is a multifunctional convertible catheter and methods of use, said multifunctional convertible catheter capable of performance of both diagnostic angiography while containing a guide wire throughout its lumen and angioplasty, and also being convertible between over-the-wire or rapid exchange configurations by manipulation of said multifunctional catheter and said guide wire by an operator. Whether used in an over-the-wire or rapid exchange configuration, a multifunctional convertible catheter disclosed herein allows the operator to perform angioplasty at any site in the body without use of an exchange length guide wire, without the need to exchange said convertible angioplasty balloon catheter for a diagnostic catheter pre- or post-angioplasty, without the need of an injectable vascular sheath, all while reducing catheter inventory requirements for the health care system.

A folding method of an inflatable balloon disposed on an outer peripheral surface of an inner tube of a balloon catheter is disclosed. The method includes: disposing the balloon to an inner side of a plurality of first blade portions arranged so as to surround a reference position while maintaining a state where pressure is applied to an inside of the balloon; correcting a bend of the balloon by moving the plurality of first blade portions toward the reference position in the state where the pressure is applied to the inside of the balloon; pleating a plurality of wing portions protruding radially outward on the balloon by further moving the plurality of first blade portions toward the reference position to partially press the balloon while gradually discharging the fluid inside the balloon; and folding the balloon along the inner tube.

Devices and methods for treating obesity are provided. More particularly, intragastric devices and methods of fabricating, deploying, inflating, monitoring, and retrieving the same are provided.

A prosthetic heart valve delivery system includes a prosthetic heart valve, an anchor, and a catheter extending from a proximal end to a distal end configured to receive the prosthetic heart valve and the anchor. The catheter includes a balloon circumferentially surrounding the catheter at the distal end of the catheter, and an inflation lumen positioned radially outward of the catheter extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the inflation lumen in communication with the balloon.

An earpiece, earphone, earbud or earplug includes an inflatable element operatively attached to a distal end by an inflation channel, and an anti-distal end of the inflation channel that provides a pressuring force via fluid transfer of a fluid to maintain an expansion of the inflatable element. The inflatable element can be pressurized to a gauge pressure range between 0.05 bar and 3.0 bar. In some embodiments, the inflatable element is pressurized to a gauge pressure range from 0.3 bar to 0.25 bar and maintains such gauge pressure range for at least 12 hours. In some embodiments, the inflatable element uses a material of a predetermined permeability for a given density of fluid and a given thickness of the inflatable element such that an inflation pressure drops from 1.2 atmospheres to 1 atmospheres in 8 hours after the inflatable element is pressurized to 1.2 atmospheres. Other embodiments are disclosed.