319 results about "Neck of pancreas" patented technology

A pharyngeal retractor device and implantation methods are provided for use in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. The device includes a retracting element and a tissue engaging element that promotes tissue ingrowth around or onto the retracting element. The device is implanted in tissue space beneath the pharyngeal wall to alter the shape of the wall. The device may be implanted through the oral cavity alone or by using a trocar or a hand-held delivery system to deliver the device through the pharyngeal wall. Alternatively, the device may be implanted using an open, direct visualization approach from the side of a patient's neck.

The current invention describes methods of transesophageal access to the neck and thorax to perform surgical interventions on structures outside the esophagus in both the cervical and the thoracic cavity. It describes a liner device made of a complete or partial tubular structure, or a flat plate, the liner having means to facilitate creation of a side opening, which may include a valve. The liner with its side opening form a port structure inside the esophageal lumen. The port structure allows elongated surgical devices to pass through a perforation across the full thickness of the esophageal wall to outside location, in a controlled way. The elongated surgical devices can be diagnostic scopes, therapeutic scopes, manual elongated surgical devices, robotic arms or the like. After being deployed outside the esophagus, the surgical devices can access structures outside the esophagus, in the neck and thorax in 360 degrees of freedom around the esophageal circumference. These structures can be bony, cartilaginous, spinal, vascular, soft tissue, deep tissues, lymph nodal, cardiac, pulmonary, tracheal, nervous, muscular or diaphragmatic, skin and subcutaneous tissues of the neck, skin and subcutaneous tissues of the anterior chest wall, skin and subcutaneous tissues of the skin of the back, and skin and layers of the breast.

A device for regulating blood pressure between a patient's left atrium and right atrium comprises an hourglass-shaped stent comprising a neck region and first and second flared end regions, the neck region disposed between the first and second end regions and configured to engage the fossa ovalis of the patient's atrial septum; and a one-way tissue valve coupled to the first flared end region and configured to shunt blood from the left atrium to the right atrium when blood pressure in the left atrium exceeds blood pressure in the right atrium. The inventive devices may reduce left atrial pressure and left ventricular end diastolic pressure, and may increase cardiac output, increase ejection fraction, relieve pulmonary congestion, and lower pulmonary artery pressure, among other benefits. The inventive devices may be used, for example, to treat subjects having heart failure, pulmonary congestion, or myocardial infarction, among other pathologies.

A device for regulating blood pressure between a patient's left atrium and right atrium comprises an hourglass-shaped stent comprising a neck region and first and second flared end regions, the neck region disposed between the first and second end regions and configured to engage the fossa ovalis of the patient's atrial septum; and a one-way tissue valve coupled to the first flared end region and configured to shunt blood from the left atrium to the right atrium when blood pressure in the left atrium exceeds blood pressure in the right atrium. The inventive device may include a biodegradable material that biodegrades to offset flow changes caused by tissue ingrowth. The inventive device may reduce left atrial pressure and left ventricular end diastolic pressure, and may increase cardiac output, increase ejection fraction, relieve pulmonary congestion, and lower pulmonary artery pressure, among other benefits.

A one piece tongue stabilizing device formed of a resiliently flexible material and comprises a body having a hollow interior within which the end of a user's tongue fits and is held by negative pressure. The body of the device comprises an entry portion having an opening to the hollow interior of the device and a bulb portion connected by a narrower diameter neck portion. Tabs extend from the bulb portion which in use engage the exterior of the user's face around the user's mouth or between the user's teeth and lips, to hold the tongue forward to assist in opening user's airway and reducing snoring. A major benefit of the device of the invention is that it does not require specialist fitting or the taking of upper and lower jaw impressions of the patient to produce a tailored device for the patient.

An orthosis comprises a cervical portion that holds a head in place relative to a thoracic portion worn by a wearer. The orthosis has an intermediate portion disposed intermediate the cervical and thoracic portions. The orthosis also has a first adjustment region that provides at least 15° of relative movement between the cervical and intermediate portions, and a second adjustment region that provides at least 15° of relative movement between the thoracic and intermediate portions. First and second adjustment regions allow the orthosis to comfortably accommodate differently proportioned wearers, and each comprises one or more locking devices to prevent undesired movement of the cervical and thoracic portions relative to the intermediate portion.

A modification to allow delivery of a two port medical flow restrictor over a guidewire, and a means to mechanically collapse the new device. A thin walled, foil-like shell, is compacted for delivery. The invention includes the device, delivery assemblies, and methods of placing, and using, the device. A device with an aneurysm lobe and an artery lobe self-aligns its waist at the neck of an aneurysm as the device shell is pressure expanded. Mechanical force collapses both the aneurysm lobe and the artery lobe, captivating the neck of the aneurysm and securing the device. The device works for aneurysms at bifurcations and aneurysms near side-branch arteries. The device, unlike endovascular coiling, excludes the weak neck of the aneurysm from circulation, while leaving the aneurysm relatively empty. Unlike stent-based exclusion, the device does not block perforator arteries. This exclusion device can also limit flow through body lumens or orifices.

A shunt for regulating blood pressure between a patient's left atrium and right atrium comprises an anchor comprising a neck region, first and second end regions, and a conduit affixed with the anchor that formed of a biocompatible material that is resistant to transmural and translation tissue ingrowth and that reduces a risk of paradoxical embolism.

An intravaginal uterine artery occlusion device is used for treating uterine disorders such as fibroids, dysfunctional uterine bleeding, postpartum hemorrhage and the like. A occlusion device has a cervical receptacle with an open distal end for receiving the patients uterine cervix, an elongated shaft having a distal end secured to the closed proximal end of the cervical receptacle, and an inner lumen extending to the distal end of the shaft. The patient's uterine cervix is held within the interior of the receptacle by the application of a vacuum to the interior of the receptacle through the inner lumen of the shaft while the leading edge(s) of the cervical receptacle press against the patient's vaginal fornix to occlude the uterine artery. A blood flow sensor may be provided on the leading edge of the receptacle to aid in locating a uterine artery and to monitor blood flow through the uterine artery.