A disposable device for absorbing urine and/or bodily fluids in the urethra having a cylindrical body having a top and bottom end. The body is made of absorbent material that expands upon contact with urine and bodily fluids and includes a string connected to the bottom end of the body for removing the device from the urethra. The device can include a vasodilator in or on a surface of the body and can be used to treat urinary incontinence and/or erectile dysfunction by inserting into the urethra and removing the device after it has been impregnated with fluid. The device can be included in a kit with a plunger for insertion.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to blood-flow regulation systems and associated methods, and, in some embodiments, includes an adjustable blood flow regulation device that includes an inner tube, an expandable member coupled to the inner tube, a proximal control handle that includes a controller operatively coupled to the member and configured to control expansion of the member, and a downstream tip member coupled to a distal portion of the inner tube which is distal to the member. The tip member is coupled to a first fluid pressure sensor. A second fluid pressure sensor is coupled to a portion of the inner tube proximal to the member.

An example device includes memory configured to store an observer and processing circuitry communicatively coupled to the memory. The processing circuitry is configured to receive, from an oxygen sensor, an oxygen sensor signal indicative of an amount of dissolved oxygen in a fluid, wherein the oxygen sensor is located in a distal portion of a catheter or distal to a distal end of the catheter, and wherein the fluid flows to the oxygen sensor from a location within a patient. The processing circuitry is configured to determine, based on the oxygen sensor signal, a measurement of the amount of dissolved oxygen in the fluid. The processing circuitry is configured to apply the observer to the measurement of the amount of dissolved oxygen in the fluid. The processing circuitry is configured to determine, based on the observer, an estimate of an amount of dissolved oxygen in the fluid at the location.

The present invention discloses systems and methods for use in the treatment and management of obstructive urolithiasis. A coupling device between a nephrostomy tube and external fluid and control connections may be used in some embodiments of the present invention. This coupling device may provide a quick connection between the nephrostomy tube and a reservoir for irrigation and a collection container for drainage of the kidney. In some embodiments, a triple lumen nephrostomy tube may be used to house an irrigation catheter for irrigation of the patient's kidneys and a ureteral modulation wire and enable drainage of fluid from the kidneys. The ureteral modulation wire may be inserted into the patient's ureter through the kidney in conjunction with the nephrostomy tube. A harness system is also disclosed that may be used in conjunction with the coupling device and the triple lumen nephrostomy tube to enable a patient to independently control irrigation and drainage of the kidney.

Disclosed are compositions, dispensers, and methods thereof for establishing a urine passageway through a ureter. For example, a composition can include, in some embodiments, a primary solid phase and a secondary solid phase. The primary solid phase can include a monomer, a pre-polymer, or a mixture thereof configured to commence polymerization into a polymeric form in the ureter when contacted with a fluid such as urine or saline. The secondary solid phase is dispersed in the primary solid phase. The secondary solid phase can include a leachable component. The leachable component is configured to leach from the polymeric form when contacted with a sufficient amount of a same or different fluid. The leachable component is also configured to form pores of an open-pore network throughout the polymeric form when leached from the polymeric form, thereby establishing the urine passageway through the ureter.

Methods and apparatus are provided for treating hypertension, e.g., via a pulsed electric field, via a stimulation electric field, via localized drug delivery, via high frequency ultrasound, via thermal techniques, etc. Such neuromodulation may effectuate irreversible electroporation or electrofusion, necrosis and/or inducement of apoptosis, alteration of gene expression, action potential attenuation or blockade, changes in cytokine up-regulation and other conditions in target neural fibers. In some embodiments, neuromodulation is applied to neural fibers that contribute to renal function. In some embodiments, such neuromodulation is performed in a bilateral fashion. Bilateral renal neuromodulation may provide enhanced therapeutic effect in some patients as compared to renal neuromodulation performed unilaterally, i.e., as compared to renal neuromodulation performed on neural tissue innervating a single kidney.

A method of managing fluid conditions in a patient involves advancing at least one medical instrument into a target organ of a patient, the at least one medical instrument comprising an irrigation channel and an aspiration channel, coupling the at least one medical instrument to an irrigation fluid source, providing irrigation from the irrigation fluid source into the target organ through the irrigation channel of the at least one medical instrument, determining an irrigation pressure limit based at least in part on one or more case-specific parameters, providing irrigation into the target organ through the irrigation channel, and limiting the irrigation based at least in part on the determined irrigation pressure limit.

A ureteral catheter includes a drainage lumen including a proximal portion configured to be positioned in at least a portion of a patient's urethra and/or bladder and a distal portion configured to be positioned in a patient's kidney, renal pelvis, and/or in the ureter adjacent to the renal pelvis, the distal portion including a retention portion for maintaining positioning of the distal portion of the drainage lumen, the retention portion including two or more openings on a sidewall of the retention portion for permitting fluid flow into the drainage lumen, wherein a number of the openings nearer to a distal end of the retention portion is greater than a number of the opening(s) nearer to a proximal end of the retention portion.

Apparatus and methods are described for use with a tributary vessel of a subject that supplies a vein of the subject. Blood within the tributary vessel is mechanically isolated into a compartment that is separated from blood within the vein. Blood flow from the tributary vessel to the vein is controlled by pumping blood from the compartment to the vein. Other applications are also described.

In some aspects, provided herein are antimicrobial compositions comprising partially esterified polygalacturonic acid and certain fatty acids (e.g., caprylic acid). In some embodiments, the antimicrobial composition may be administered (e.g., topically or orally) to a subject, such as a human patient to treat an infection (e.g., an infection comprising a biofilm). In some aspects, improved catheters are provided.