An access route formation method for a bile duct includes: inserting a treatment tool into a duodenum as a target; deforming a tissue of a duodenal papilla by pressing the treatment tool against the duodenal papilla; observing a deformed tissue; and forming an opening in the bile duct located below the deformed tissue by incising the deformed tissue or puncturing the deformed tissue in a state in which the treatment tool is pressed against the deformed tissue.

A method for navigating therapeutic, diagnostic or imaging agents in a vascular network or body cavity is introduced. The method is characterized by high directional gradients and a high magnetic field strength. The latter is used to saturate the magnetization of magnetic therapeutic agents such that when combined with high directional gradients, improved navigation of the magnetic therapeutic agents can be provided at various depths within a patient's body.

A multi-lumen catheter for monitoring uterine contraction pressure having an elongated body configured and dimensioned for insertion into a bladder of a patient, the catheter having a first lumen, a second lumen, and a first balloon at a distal portion, the first lumen communicating with the first balloon. The second lumen communicates with the bladder to remove fluid from the bladder. The first balloon is filled with a gas to form along with the first lumen a gas filled chamber to monitor pressure within the bladder to thereby monitor uterine contraction pressure of the patient.

The invention relates to devices and methods for affecting an internal body tube, such as the esophagus, particularly to affecting the internal body tube by inserting a device into the internal body tube and more particularly to affecting the internal body tube by at least partially sealing off a section and moving the walls of the internal body tube, and/or applying cooling to the internal body tube. This invention further relates to methods of using such devices to move portions of an internal body tube away from an area undergoing a treatment or therapy, such as to minimize damage to the internal body tube, and/or providing cooling/temperature monitoring.

A fluid collection and measurement container includes a first wall and a second wall disposed opposite the first wall. The second wall is secured to the first wall and the first wall and the second wall define an expandable volume therebetween. A first electrolytic element is disposed on the first wall and a second electrolytic element is disposed on the second wall. A first terminal is connected to the first electrolytic element and a second terminal is connected to the second electrolytic element.

Sinusitis, enlarged nasal turbinates, tumors, infections, hearing disorders, allergic conditions, facial fractures and other disorders of the ear, nose and throat are diagnosed and/or treated using minimally invasive approaches and, in many cases, flexible catheters as opposed to instruments having rigid shafts. Various diagnostic procedures and devices are used to perform imaging studies, mucus flow studies, air/gas flow studies, anatomic dimension studies, endoscopic studies and transillumination studies. Access and occluder devices may be used to establish fluid tight seals in the anterior or posterior nasal cavities/nasopharynx and to facilitate insertion of working devices (e.g., scopes, guidewires, catheters, tissue cutting or remodeling devices, electrosurgical devices, energy emitting devices, devices for injecting diagnostic or therapeutic agents, devices for implanting devices such as stents, substance eluting devices, substance delivery implants, etc.

Apparatus and methods are presented herein that permit real-time, accurate detection of residual tumor in the operating room. The Raman-based wide-field imaging apparatus and methods described herein permit real-time imaging of tumor-targeted R-MR nanoparticles over a wide field. Apparatus and methods are presented herein for operating a Raman-based resection system.

This invention relates to the treatment of a patient's lung, for example, a lung exhibiting chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and in particular to methods and devices for affecting lung volume reduction, preferably for achieving acute or immediate lung volume reduction following treatment. The lung volume reduction is effected by delivering a condensable vapor at a temperature above body temperature to the desired regions of the patient's lung to damage tissue therein. Blood flow and air flow to the damaged tissue region is essentially terminated, rendering the target region non-functional. Alternative energy sources may be used to effect the thermal damage to the lung tissue.

A multi-lumen catheter for monitoring uterine contraction pressure having an elongated body configured and dimensioned for insertion into a bladder of a patient, the catheter having a first lumen, a second lumen, and a first balloon at a distal portion, the first lumen communicating with the first balloon. The second lumen communicates with the bladder to remove fluid from the bladder. The first balloon is filled with a gas to form along with the first lumen a gas filled chamber to monitor pressure within the bladder to thereby monitor uterine contraction pressure of the patient.

A telescoping catheter is provided such as for distal neurovascular aspiration or access. The catheter includes an elongate, flexible tubular body, having a proximal section with at least one lumen and a distal section which is axially movably positioned within the lumen. A control is provided for advancing the distal section from a first, proximally retracted position within the proximal section to a second extended position, extending distally beyond the proximal section. The distal end of at least one of the proximal and distal sections may be provided with at least one active feature, such as at least one movable jaw or rotatable agitator, to assist in the capture of vascular obstruction. The jaw may be operable in response to application of pulsatile negative pressure through the catheter.