An apparatus for the treatment of acid reflux disease comprising two or more movement restriction device segments adapted to be assembled movement restriction device of a controlled size. The assembled movement restriction device can at least partly be invaginated by a patient's stomach fundus wall. A substantial part of the outer surface of the movement restriction device is adapted to rest against the stomach wall without injuring the latter in a position between the patient's diaphragm and at least a portion of the lower part of the invaginated stomach fundus wall, such that movement of the cardiac notch of the patient's stomach towards the patient's diaphragm is restricted, to thereby prevent the cardia from sliding through the patient's diaphragm opening into the patient's thorax, so as to maintain the supporting pressure against the patient's cardia sphincter muscle exerted from the patient's abdomen.

An apparatus for determining the volume of urine in a human bladder is described. The apparatus uses light to determine the length of a flexible tube attached vertically to the outside of the bladder, and converts the length into a fullness value that is transmitted to an external device that notifies a user about the state of the bladder.

Devices and methods for manipulating devices such as micro-scale devices are provided. The devices can include a tether of various materials surrounded by a stiff body. The tether interfaces with microscale devices to draw them against the stiff body, holding the microscale devices in a locked position for insertion into or extraction out of tissue. The tensional hook and stiff body are configurable in a multitude of positions and geometries to provide increased engagement. Such configurations allow for a range of implantation and extraction surgical procedures for the device within research and clinical settings.

An implantable medical device (IMD) includes a memory configured to store a set of therapy parameters for subsensory electrical stimulation of a patient; and therapy delivery circuitry configured to deliver the subsensory electrical stimulation to at least one of a sacral nerve or tibial nerve based on the stored set of therapy parameters to provide immediate therapeutic effect caused by the ongoing delivery of the subsensory electrical stimulation to address incontinence, wherein a stimulation intensity of the subsensory electrical stimulation is less than 80% of a stimulation intensity at a sensory threshold, and wherein the patient does not perceive delivery of the subsensory electrical stimulation and perceives delivery of stimulation at the sensory threshold.

A system includes a processor circuit configured to receive a first set of data. The first set of data includes two pressure measurements and a flow measurement from the vasculature of a patient obtained while the sympathetic nervous system of the patient is not under stimulation. The processor circuit calculates a blood flow resistance value based on the first set of data. The processor circuit then receives a second set of data. The second set of data also includes two pressure measurements and a flow measurement from the vasculature of the patient obtained while the sympathetic nervous system of the patient is stimulated. The processor circuit calculates another blood resistance value based on the second set of data. The processor circuit then compares the two blood flow resistance values to determine whether a denervation procedure would be effective to mitigate the nerve system's response to stimulation. The processor circuit outputs to a screen display metrics obtained from the measurement procedure.

The present specification discloses devices and methodologies for the treatment of GERD. Individuals with GERD may be treated by implanting a stimulation device within the patient's lower esophageal sphincter and applying electrical stimulation to the patient's lower esophageal sphincter, in accordance with certain predefined protocols. The presently disclosed devices have a simplified design because they do not require sensing systems capable of sensing when a person is engaged in a wet swallow, have improved energy storage requirements, enable improved LES function while concurrently delivering additional health benefits, and enable improved LES function post stimulation termination.

A system for modulating bladder function is disclosed. A system for evaluating the electrophysiological function of a bladder is disclosed. Methods for performing a controlled surgical procedure on a bladder are disclosed. A system for performing controlled surgical procedures in a minimally invasive manner is disclosed. An implantable device for monitoring and/or performing a neuromodulation procedure on a bladder is disclosed.

Provided herein is a solution to the problem of stimulation of a target pudendal nerve such that the stimulation applied by the electrode at that position selectively modulates the external urtheral sphincter (EUS), or selectively modulates the external anal sphincter (EAS).

A cuff is described for a target anatomic feature within a body, along with a system for utilizing the cuff. The cuff includes a band defining a circumferential opening extending along a length of the band; and a pair of engagement surfaces defined by or affixed to the cuff, the engagement surfaces structured for application of a spreading force to be distributed continuously along a portion of the circumferential opening, thereby increasing the circumferential opening and expanding the cuff for a closed configuration to an open configuration sized for placement of the cuff. The cuff is structured to remain in the closed configuration in the absence of the spreading force and automatically return to the closed configuration after removal of the spreading force.

The invention provides an implantable system for managing urinary incontinence. The system includes a sling with an elongate body member having a proximal portion, a distal portion and an intermediate portion. The intermediate portion is configured to be positioned underneath urethra of a subject for providing an adequate support to prevent leakage of urine during a stress event. The system may include a pressure sensor communicatively coupled with the elongated body member and configured to be positioned in an abdominal cavity and adapted to sense an increase in intra-abdominal pressure. The pressure sensor generates a first signal that is indicative of a change in the intra-abdominal pressure upon occurrence of the stress event. The system includes a processing circuit to process the first signal sensed by the pressure sensor. The processing circuit is configured to generate a second signal causing an adjustment of tensioning force in the elongate body member thereby changing magnitude of a supporting force to the urethra.