The invention locally delivers a chemotherapeutic or a radiographic contrast agent to an upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). The invention includes a balloon catheter with a working channel and a balloon placed into the ureter/renal pelvis via retrograde or antegrade ureteral access. The balloon is inflated to temporarily obstruct the ureter, and a formulation with a chemotherapeutic agent is infused into the working channel of the catheter and allowed to dwell in the ureter/renal pelvis for a time sufficient to allow the formulation to adhere to and penetrate the urothelial wall. The formulations can be liposomal or non-liposomal formulations. At least portion of the infused chemotherapeutic-agent formulation adheres to the urothelial wall while it is instilled and dwells in the ureter/renal pelvis. The methods of the invention can be performed as an adjuvant therapy to other methods of treating UTUC, including ureteroscopic ablation or resection of the tumor.

A method of delivering an agent to a mammal includes providing a device with an agent for delivery of the agent to anal and/or perianal tissues of the mammal. The device is inserted into an anus of the mammal and then an expandable portion of the device is expanded to anchor the device within the anus.

Described herein is a shock wave device for the treatment of vascular occlusions. The shock wave device includes an outer covering and an inner member inner connected at a distal end of the device. First and second conductive wires extend along the length of the device within the volume between the outer covering and the inner member. A conductive emitter band circumscribes the ends of the first and second wires to form a first spark gap between the end of the first wire and the emitter band and a second spark gap between the end of the second wire and the emitter band. When the volume is filled with conductive fluid and a high voltage pulse is applied across the first and second wires, first and second shock waves can be initiated from the first and second spark gaps.

Provided is a balloon unit for uterine hemostasis capable of reliably suppressing or stopping uterine bleeding. The balloon unit includes a flexible tube and a balloon provided in a distal end portion of the tube. The balloon has a lower uterine lumen compression portion that compresses an inner surface of a lower uterine lumen and an upper uterine lumen compression portion that compresses an inner surface of an upper uterine lumen. As the balloon, two balloons including a first balloon functioning as the lower uterine lumen compression portion and a second balloon functioning as the upper uterine lumen compression portion are provided.

A kyphoplasty system disclosed herein includes various instruments which can be selectively used to perform a kyphoplasty operation on a patient. For example, in some embodiments the kyphoplasty system includes an inflation plunger that is used to deliver a balloon inflation medium to enlarge an implantable balloon device. Further, some embodiments described herein include a connection system between the implantable balloon device and its delivery shaft that is simple to construct and easy to use. For example, in some embodiments one or more sutures are used to releasably connect the implantable balloon device to its delivery shaft.

A catheter insertable into a cavity of a patient for monitoring pressure including a first lumen for drainage from the cavity and an expandable balloon. The balloon has a liquid containing chamber to monitor pressure within the cavity of the patient as pressure on the outer wall of the balloon deforms the balloon and compresses the liquid within the balloon. An exit port provides passage of air from an interior of the balloon to outside the catheter. A membrane has plurality of pores dimensioned to enable passage of air but prevent passage of the liquid therethrough. A pressure sensor communicates with the liquid containing chamber for measuring pressure based on compression of liquid caused by deformation of the expanded balloon.

A catheter comprising an elongated member having a distal end and a proximal end. The proximal end defines a drainage inlet extending from an external wall of the elongated member into the elongated member. The elongated member defines a first lumen that connects the drainage inlet with a drainage outlet defined by the distal end. The catheter also includes an inflatable retention balloon defined by the external wall of the elongated member and located between the drainage inlet and the drainage outlet. The catheter further includes a fluid inlet valve that protrudes from the elongated member and defines a second lumen that extends from the fluid inlet valve through the elongated member and to the inflatable retention balloon. The catheter additionally includes a secondary balloon that protrudes from the elongated member, the elongated member defining a third lumen that extends from the inflatable retention balloon to the secondary balloon.

Described herein is a shock wave device for the treatment of vascular occlusions. The shock wave device includes an outer covering and an inner member inner connected at a distal end of the device. First and second conductive wires extend along the length of the device within the volume between the outer covering and the inner member. A conductive emitter band circumscribes the ends of the first and second wires to form a first spark gap between the end of the first wire and the emitter band and a second spark gap between the end of the second wire and the emitter band. When the volume is filled with conductive fluid and a high voltage pulse is applied across the first and second wires, first and second shock waves can be initiated from the first and second spark gaps.

A device is provided for delivery of a therapeutic agent to the anal and perianal regions. The device includes a deployable internal anchor adapted to comfortably anchor the device in the anal canal, a shaft adapted to store and release the agent to the anal canal, and an external bumper adapted to store and release the agent to the perianal tissue and externally anchor the device.

Valves and valve systems are provided that are useful for integration with inflatable indwelling medical devices to prevent over-inflation of retention balloon.