Method and system for treating a patient using a compressible, pressure-attenuating device. According to one embodiment, the system is used to treat urinary tract disorders and can include one or more of an access device, a delivery device, a pressure-attenuating device, and a removal device. The access device may be used to create a passageway to an anatomical structure, such as the patient's bladder. The delivery device may be inserted through the passageway created by the access device and may be used to deliver the pressure-attenuating device to the anatomical structure. The removal device may be inserted through the passageway created by the access device and may be used to view the bladder and/or to capture, to deflate and to remove the pressure-attenuating device.

Procedural methods are provided that are capable of forming a protuberant region, in which the surface of a living body protrudes, in a less-invasive manner and a medical device capable of forming the protuberant region in a less-invasive manner. A procedural method for forming a protuberant region, in which a surface of a living body protrudes, includes an introduction step of introducing a container having flexibility into the living body, a protuberant region forming step of forming the protuberant region, in which the surface of the living body protrudes, by filling the container with a filling material to expand the container, and a placement step of placing the expanded container in the living body.

An embodiment of an ingestible device for the delivery of a therapeutic agent includes a swallowable outer shell and a delivery mechanism within the outer shell. The delivery mechanism includes an expandable enclosure. The delivery mechanism is triggerable in situ within a gastrointestinal (GI) tract of a body to expand multiple regions of the expandable enclosure to an expanded state at a delivery location within the body. The multiple regions include a head region and a tail region with a protective recess defined between the head region and the tail region, and a retention region within the protective recess. A dimension of the retention region as expanded is less than a dimension of the head region as expanded and less than a dimension of the tail region as expanded. The ingestible device includes a shaped composition disposed at the retention region.

Method and system for treating a patient using a compressible, pressure-attenuating device. According to one embodiment, the system is used to treat urinary tract disorders and can include one or more of an access device, a delivery device, a pressure-attenuating device, and a removal device. The access device may be used to create a passageway to an anatomical structure, such as the patient's bladder. The delivery device may be inserted through the passageway created by the access device and may be used to deliver the pressure-attenuating device to the anatomical structure. The removal device may be inserted through the passageway created by the access device and may be used to view the bladder and/or to capture, to deflate and to remove the pressure-attenuating device.

A fluid delivery device includes a tube coupled to an axial manipulator. The axial manipulator includes an elongate member arranged to move axially in a housing. The tube is in fluid communication with a fluid diverter which is arranged to move axially in the housing upon axial movement of the elongate member. Seals are provided to prevent fluid from leaking out of the housing. A fluid port is in fluid communication with the tube via the fluid diverter, such that fluid can flow in and out of the tube via the fluid port and the fluid diverter.

An example medical device for occluding the left atrial appendage is disclosed. The example medical device includes an expandable member including a first balloon defining a first inflation chamber and a second balloon defining a second inflation chamber. Further, the second inflation chamber is positioned adjacent to the first inflation chamber, the first inflation chamber is in fluid communication with the second inflation chamber and the expandable member is designed to shift between a first configuration and a second expanded configuration. Additionally, the first balloon is designed to fill a first region of the left atrial appendage and the second balloon is designed to fill a second region of the left atrial appendage. The medical device also includes a first inflation valve member extending at least partially into the first inflation chamber and the expandable member is configured to expand and seal the opening of the left atrial appendage.

Method and system for treating a patient using a compressible, pressure-attenuating device. According to one embodiment, the system is used to treat urinary tract disorders and comprises an access device, a delivery device, a pressure-attenuating device, and a removal device. The access device may be used to create a passageway to an anatomical structure, such as the patient's bladder. The delivery device may be inserted through the passageway created by the access device and may be used to deliver the pressure-attenuating device to the anatomical structure. The removal device may be inserted through the passageway created by the access device and may be used to view the bladder and/or to capture, to deflate and to remove the pressure-attenuating device.

The present application provides a connecting and releasing structure for a balloon system, a balloon system comprising the connecting and releasing structure, and a method for fabricating the same. The connecting and releasing structure is used for connection and release of a catheter and a balloon. The connecting and releasing structure comprises a self-sealing valve positioned on the balloon. The self-sealing valve comprises a catheter connecting port. The catheter passes through the catheter connecting port and is sealedly connected to the self-sealing valve. The self-sealing valve is completely or partially bonded to the inner wall of the balloon. When the catheter is removed after delivery of a filler, the self-sealing valve is not pulled out of the balloon, and thus leakage of the filler can be prevented. In addition, the perimeter of a small orifice in a side wall of the self-sealing valve or the perimeter of the cross-section of the distal end thereof is not greater than the outer diameter of the catheter, and therefore, no leakage occurs when the balloon is full of filler. In addition, the perimeters of cross-sections of the self-sealing valve may differ and increase gradually or stepwise from distal to proximal, thus facilitating the insertion and removal of the catheter.

A method of forming a three-dimensional object is carried out by providing a carrier and an optically transparent member having a build surface, the carrier and the build surface defining a build region therebetween; filling the build region with a polymerizable liquid; irradiating the build region through the optically transparent member to form a solid polymer from the polymerizable liquid and advancing the carrier away from the build surface to form the three-dimensional object from the solid polymer, while also concurrently with the irradiating and/or advancing steps: (i) continuously maintaining a dead zone of polymerizable liquid in contact with the build surface, and (ii) continuously maintaining a gradient of polymerization zone between the dead zone and the solid polymer and in contact with each thereof. The gradient of polymerization zone comprises the polymerizable liquid in partially cured form (e.g., so that the formation of fault or cleavage lines between layers of solid polymer in the three-dimensional object is reduced). Apparatus for carrying out the method is also described.

An apparatus includes a shaft, an expandable dilation member, and a bulbous tip. The shaft has a first outer cross-sectional dimension. The dilation member is positioned proximal to the distal end of the shaft. The dilation member is operable to transition between a non-expanded configuration and an expanded configuration. The dilation member is sized to pass through a passageway associated with drainage of a paranasal sinus or a Eustachian tube when the dilation member is in the non-expanded configuration. The bulbous tip is positioned at the distal end of the shaft. The bulbous tip is distal to the dilation member. The bulbous tip has a second outer cross-sectional dimension. The second outer cross-sectional dimension is larger than the first outer cross-sectional dimension. The bulbous tip is removably secured to the distal end of the shaft.