An expandable occlusion device is provided including an expandable occluder expandable from a compressed state to an expanded state to sealingly engage tissue. An outer sheath that defines a longitudinal axis may be disposed about the expandable occluder. The outer sheath may be configured to compress the expandable occluder and maintain the expandable occluder in the compressed state. A pull cord may be operably coupled to the outer sheath and selectively manipulatable to tear the outer sheath such that the outer sheath is removed from the expandable occluder allowing the expandable occluder to expand from the compressed state to the expanded state.

The present invention relates to a device for intermittently obstructing a bodily opening, such as a gastric opening, and includes a proximal member connected to a distal member by a tether. The proximal member includes an apron member surrounding a first occluding member, which is formable from an elongated and narrower configuration to a contracted or expanded but wider configuration. When employed in the stomach, the device of the present invention is arranged transluminally, with the distal member disposed in the duodenum and the proximal member disposed against the pyloric valve, intermittently occluding the pyloric valve and preventing or delaying the flow of gastric contents through the pyloric valve. In certain embodiments, a reservoir may be included for releasing a substance of interest, for example for releasing insulin from a reservoir disposed in the distal member. Sensors, actuators, and data transmission devices may also be included.

The invention relates to a system for treating an epistaxis, comprising: a compressible body designed to come into contact with walls of a nasal cavity of a patient, or surrounded by a veil of hemostatic properties; an envelope designed to envelop the compressible body; and a compression device for compressing the compressible body in the envelope, said compression device being designed so as to compress or release the compressible body.

The present invention provides, in certain aspects, medical devices deliverable into passageways and other open spaces in the body. In one embodiment, the invention provides a fistula plug for delivery into a fistula tract. This fistula plug includes an elongate plug body, and a removable core material that is received in the plug body and effective to increase the column strength of the plug body. The plug body may be formed with one or more of a variety of biocompatible materials including some that are naturally derived and some that are non-naturally derived. The present invention also provides apparatuses and methods for delivering these and other medical devices into the body. One such apparatus includes a fistula plug having a plug body, and a removable delivery device received in the plug body, wherein the delivery device is effective to deliver the plug body into a fistula tract when advanced therethrough.

Apparatus for permanent placement across an ostium of a left atrial appendage in a patient, which includes a filtering membrane configured to extend across the ostium of the left atrial appendage. The filtering membrane has a permeable structure which allows blood to flow through but substantially inhibits thrombus from passing therethrough. The apparatus also includes a support structure attached to the filtering membrane which retains the filtering membrane in position across the ostium of the left atrial appendage by permanently engaging a portion of the interior wall of the left atrial appendage. The support structure may be radially expandable from a first configuration to a second configuration which engages the ostium or the interior wall of the left atrial appendage. The filtering membrane may define an opening therethrough that is configured to expand from a first size which inhibits the passage of thrombus therethrough to a second size which allows an interventional device, e.g., an expansion balloon, to pass therethrough, and wherein the opening is resiliently biased towards the first size.

Microcatheters having enlarged distal ends with distally decreasing tapered portions are disclosed. These microcatheters can be used for various treatments within a vessel, such as treatment of a vasospasm and delivery of a liquid embolic material.

A sizer may be configured to determine a size of a portion of a heart. The portion of the heart may comprise a left atrial appendage (LAA). The sizer may include an anchor configured to anchor to the heart, and one or more indicators on the elongate body and configured to indicate a size of the portion of the heart.

Medical devices for delivering a plug to a void within a patient. The medical device can include a fluid delivery device and a plug holder (e.g., a plug delivery device) coupled to a distal end of the fluid delivery device. The medical device may be configured such that the delivery of fluid from the fluid delivery device wets the plug, ejects the plug from the plug holder, and pushes the plug through a lumen of an elongate tube to a void within a patient.

Medical devices and methods for treating and occluding a female patient's fallopian tubes to provide permanent birth control or sterilization.