An apparatus that includes a mask is provided, the mask including one or more fixation anchoring devices, each configured to anchor to an at least one body part within a user, wherein the at least one body part includes at least a portion of one or more of an oral, nasal, pharyngeal, and a respiratory airway; one or more skin covers, each capable of covering at least a portion of the user's face, wherein one or more of the fixation anchoring devices are connected to one or more skin covers; one or more conduits, each connected to at least a portion of one of the skin covers, wherein one or more of a gas, solid, liquid, and gel are transmitted through each of the conduits; and one or more sealing pads, each connected to at least one of one of the skin coverings and one of the fixation anchoring devices.

An apparatus that includes a mask is provided, the mask including one or more fixation anchoring devices, each configured to anchor to an at least one body part within a user, wherein the at least one body part includes at least a portion of one or more of an oral, nasal, pharyngeal, and a respiratory airway; one or more skin covers, each capable of covering at least a portion of the user's face, wherein one or more of the fixation anchoring devices are connected to one or more skin covers; one or more conduits, each connected to at least a portion of one of the skin covers, wherein one or more of a gas, solid, liquid, and gel are transmitted through each of the conduits; and one or more sealing pads, each connected to at least one of one of the skin coverings and one of the fixation anchoring devices.

Disclosed herein are exemplary medical devices for controlled delivery of material compositions, particularly occlusive, therapeutic, or diagnostic compositions.

Conventional vasectomy techniques suffer from a number of disadvantages and potential complications, including, for example, a substantial risk for the development of hematomas, swelling, and post-surgical pain, a potential for spontaneous regeneration and undesired resumption of fertility, a need for a highly skilled surgical professional, as well as a long recovery period, accompanied by severe limitations on post-surgical activity. The present invention overcomes the disadvantages and deficiencies of the prior art by providing vasectomy instruments, kits, and methods that allow for a rapid, reliable, less invasive male sterilization procedure that may be readily, reliably and successfully performed by minimally skilled personnel around the world in a variety of medical settings.

Conventional vasectomy techniques suffer from a number of disadvantages and potential complications, including, for example, a substantial risk for the development of hematomas, swelling, and post-surgical pain, a potential for spontaneous regeneration and undesired resumption of fertility, a need for a highly skilled surgical professional, as well as a long recovery period, accompanied by severe limitations on post-surgical activity. The present invention overcomes the disadvantages and deficiencies of the prior art by providing vasectomy instruments, kits, and methods that allow for a rapid, reliable, less invasive male sterilization procedure that may be readily, reliably and successfully performed by minimally skilled personnel around the world in a variety of medical settings.

Methods for the synthesis and use of several variations of styrene maleic acid-based polymers and the hydrogel tissue bridges that can be formed from such polymers. Specifically, a method is disclosed for synthesizing a styrene maleic acid-based polymer that can be dissolved in DMSO and injected into the vasa deferentia of male subjects, creating a hydrogel tissue bridge. This hydrogel tissue bridge can occlude the vas deferens, thus forming an effective male contraceptive. Additionally, this male contraceptive can be reversed by injecting the lumen of the vas deferens with a basic buffer solution to dissolve and remove the hydrogel tissue bridge.

Methods for the synthesis and use of several variations of styrene maleic acid-based polymers and the hydrogel tissue bridges that can be formed from such polymers. Specifically, a method is disclosed for synthesizing a styrene maleic acid-based polymer that can be dissolved in DMSO and injected into the vasa deferentia of male subjects, creating a hydrogel tissue bridge. This hydrogel tissue bridge can occlude the vas deferens, thus forming an effective male contraceptive. Additionally, this male contraceptive can be reversed by injecting the lumen of the vas deferens with a basic buffer solution to dissolve and remove the hydrogel tissue bridge.

Apparatus and methods for occluding hollow body structures, such as blood vessels, and for attaching tissue layers and/or non-tissue layers together by providing implantable elements on opposite sides of the structure or layers and drawing the implants together to occlude the body structure and/or bring the layers together. The implants are deliverable through a needle in a low-profile configuration and self-expand to an enlarged configuration. The implantable elements are delivered by transfixing the body structure, then releasing the implants on opposite sides of the body structure and drawing the implants together to effect an occlusion or attachment. The implants are configured to apply oppositely directed forces to opposite surfaces of the tissue layers at alternate, circumferentially spaced locations and may constrain the tissue in a serpentine pattern or in a direct clamping pattern. The implants grip the tissue in a manner that defines a pressure zone about the transfixion aperture that prevents leakage from the aperture. A shield is provided to prevent the needle from contacting anatomical structures distally of the blood vessel or other target structure.

An implant device is includes an expandable balloon configured to expand in response to internal pressure applied thereto. A flexible tether is fixed to an end of the expandable balloon, and the flexible tether is buckled and packed into the expandable balloon causing the expandable balloon to expand.

There is provided a method for controlling a flow of sperms in a uterine tube of a female patient. The method comprises electrically stimulating a uterine tube wall portion by controlling an implanted stimulation device from at least one of an external control unit and an internal control unit, wherein the electrically stimulating causes contraction of the uterine tube wall portion along a length of the portion to restrict the flow of sperms in the uterine tube.