A urological device includes a valve retained in a urinary catheter. The urinary catheter has a first portion that is insertable into a urethra and a second portion adapted to remain outside of the urethra when the first portion is inserted into the urethra. The valve has a closed configuration adapted to prevent urine from exiting the urinary catheter and an open configuration adapted to allow urine to flow through and exit the urinary catheter. The valve is adapted to move from the closed configuration to the open configuration in response to a hydrodynamic pressure of at least 750 mm H2O applied to the valve for at least 5 seconds.

An artificial bladder system including an implantable bladder, a valve, a number of sensors, and an alert mechanism. The implantable bladder includes an outer wall forming a chamber for collecting urine of a user, the outer wall including inflow openings and an outflow opening. The valve is integrated with the outflow opening to selectively allow urine to flow from the chamber through the outflow opening. The sensors are configured to detect a urine level in the chamber. The alert mechanism is configured to generate a sensory output to alert the user that the bladder should be emptied upon detection of the urine level in the chamber by one of the sensors.

An organ for transplantation having a kidney, a ureter, and a urinary bladder and an organ structure in which a first ureter, a first urinary bladder, a second ureter and a second urinary bladder are sequentially connected to a kidney can produce urine and excrete the produced urine, and thus is useful for transplantation.

The present invention relates to a method for implanting an implantable apparatus for obtaining urinary control and emptying of the urinary bladder, thereby preventing from or treating involuntary urinary retention. In general terms, the apparatus comprises an expandable member adapted to be implanted inside the urinary bladder of the patient for discharging urine, and a control device for controlling the volume of the expandable member. The control device is adapted to be connected to the expandable member through the wall of the urinary bladder.

Method and system for treating a patient using an inflatable device. A removal device may be used to remove the inflatable device from the body. The removal device can have at least one manually-actuatable member and at least two opposing jaws at a distal end. At least one of the at least two jaws can be movable by actuation of the at least one manually-actuatable member. At least one of the at least two jaws can have a puncturing member.

A percutaneous urinary catheter configured to be deployed in a urinary tract, including: (a) a proximal portion; and (b) a distal portion including a retention portion configured to be deployed in a kidney and/or a renal pelvis, the retention portion including one or more drainage holes leading to one or more lumen(s) within the proximal portion, wherein the retention portion, when deployed, defines a three-dimensional shape sized and positioned to maintain patency of fluid flow between the kidney and/or renal pelvis and a proximal end of the catheter by inhibiting mucosal tissue from appreciably occluding the one or more drainage holes when negative pressure is applied through the catheter.

A percutaneous urinary catheter configured to be deployed in a urinary tract, including: (a) a proximal portion; and (b) a distal portion including a retention portion configured to be deployed in a kidney and/or a renal pelvis, the retention portion including one or more drainage holes leading to one or more lumen(s) within the proximal portion, wherein the retention portion, when deployed, defines a three-dimensional shape sized and positioned to maintain patency of fluid flow between the kidney and/or renal pelvis and a proximal end of the catheter by inhibiting mucosal tissue from appreciably occluding the one or more drainage holes when negative pressure is applied through the catheter.

Systems, instruments, methods, and compositions are described involving removing a portion of the epidermis within a donor site on a subject, and harvesting dermal plugs within the donor site. An injectable filler is formed by mincing the dermal plugs. The injectable filler is configured for injecting into a recipient site on the subject.

The present invention relates to an implantable apparatus for obtaining urinary control and emptying of the urinary bladder, thereby preventing from or treating involuntary urinary retention. In general terms, the apparatus comprises an expandable member adapted to be implanted inside the urinary bladder of the patient for discharging urine, and a control device for controlling the volume of the expandable member. The control device is adapted to be connected to the expandable member through the wall of the urinary bladder.

The present invention is an access sheath comprising a tube or sheath with a passageway primarily for endoscopic procedures accessing the ureter through the bladder. The sheath has a bend limiting feature to limit the bend angle or bend radius. The sheath exhibits flexibility up to this limit at which point it becomes rigid. Excessive force is required to bend the sheath beyond the bend limit and would result in the kinking of the tubular frame.