601 results about "Rectum" patented technology

There is disclosed medical apparatus of the type for use in surgery such as transanal endoscopic microsurgery, as well as methods of providing access to, inspecting and enabling surgery within a body passage. In one embodiment of the invention, medical apparatus in the form of a rectal expander (10) is disclosed, the expander (10) being adapted for location at least partly within a body passage such as the rectum (12) of a patient (14), the expander (10) having a leading end (18) and an access area in the form of an opening (20) for access from the expander (10) into the rectum (12), at least part of the opening (20) being spaced from the leading end (18), and the expander (10) being controllably movable between collapse and expansion positions, for expanding the rectum (12).

The invention provides an apparatus and system for ablation of body structures or tissue in the region of the rectum. A catheter is inserted into the rectum, and an electrode is disposed thereon for emitting energy. The environment for an ablation region is isolated or otherwise controlled by blocking gas or fluid using a pair of inflatable balloons at upstream and downstream locations. Inflatable balloons also serve to anchor the catheter in place. A plurality of electrodes are disposed on the catheter and at least one such electrode is selected and advanced out of the catheter to penetrate and ablate selected tissue inside the body in the region of the rectum. The electrodes are coupled to sensors to determine control parameters of the body structure or tissue, and which are used by feedback technique to control delivery of energy for ablation or fluids for cooling or hydration. The catheter includes an optical path disposed for coupling to an external view piece, so as to allow medical personnel to view or control positioning of the catheter and operation of the electrodes. The catheter is disposed to deliver flowable substances for aiding in ablation, or for aiding in repair of tissue, such as collagen or another substance for covering lesions or for filling fissures. The flowable substances are delivered using at least one lumen in the catheter, either from at least one hole in the catheter, from an area of the catheter covered by a microporous membrane, or from microporous balloons.

Devices and methods for treatment of prolapsed hemorrhoidal arteries is disclosed. The devices can identify the hemorrhoid and ligate the artery without causing significant pain or distension of the rectum. The artery can be identified with ultrasound. The ligation can be performed using energy and/or mechanical structures, such as clips or rubber bands.

Tissue manipulation devices are disclosed. In various forms, the devices include tissue manipulation arms that are arranged in a position suitable to enable the device to be inserted into the colon then, upon application of at least one actuation motion thereto, at least some of the tissue manipulation arms are moved to deployed positions wherein they contact corresponding portions of the colon to thereby expand the colon. Various devices are actuatable by various forms of actuation forces. In various embodiments, the tissue manipulation arms may be movable along corresponding axes that are transverse to an insertion axis and may also be rotated about the insertion axis as well as be moved in directions that are substantially parallel to the insertion axis.

An anoscope for use with a medical instrument insertable within the interior of the anoscope. The anoscope comprises a tubular member having a longitudinal axis with a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end is insertable into the rectum of a patient while the proximal end remains outside the body. A first longitudinal slot extends from the distal end toward the proximal end, and a second longitudinal slot extends from the proximal end toward the distal end. The first and second longitudinal slots are separated by about 180° on the surface of the tubular member. The first longitudinal slot is adapted to permit access to a site to be treated within the rectum and the second longitudinal slot is adapted to accommodate pivoting of the medical instrument at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member to improve access to the site to be treated.

A medical diagnostic instrument includes at least one blood oxygen saturation sensor and at least one temperature sensor. The sensors are being capable of measuring blood oxygen saturation and temperature simultaneously after insertion of a probe portion of the instrument relative to a defined body site, such as the axilla, rectum, or sublingual pocket of a patient. At least a portion of the probe portion of the instrument is disposable.

A gastrointestinal implant device is positioned in a patient's small intestine or rectum and produces an outward force that itself produces a distension signal which is a therapeutically useful neural or humoral signal that evokes satiogenic or weight loss effects by itself. The device may advantageously be placed in the duodenum adjacent the pylorus or in the jejunum, ileum or rectum. The distension signals may amplify chemosensory or mechanosensory signals such as enteroendocrine secretions within the patient. The device may be a mesh and include a low material density that allows for unrestricted chyme absorption within the small intestine and unrestricted chyme flow through the gastrointestinal system. A method includes inserting the device into the patient then either retrieving the device after treatment is complete or allowing a device formed of a biodegradable material to degrade in time after treatment is complete.

Improved methods and apparatuses for treatment of posterior pelvic floor repair, including rectocele and related pelvic organ prolapse, are provided. A specialized mesh (3) having a shape for convenient placement to treat rectocele by providing both level 2 and level 3 support. Appropriate devices for introducing such a mesh implant are also disclosed.

An implant for treating rectocele and/or prolapsus of the vaginal fornix is thin and flexible and includes a support body from which there extend at least two upper suspension stabilizers disposed on either side of a sagittal plane and two lower suspension stabilizers disposed on either side of the sagittal plane. The implant may be constructed from a suitable biocompatible material such as a woven synthetic material, or a knitted material of polypropylene or polyester fibers.

Improved methods and apparatuses for treatment of incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse are provided. A neo ligament for increasing the supportive function of the tissues supporting the urethra, bladder neck, or rectum is disclosed. Methods of using such a neoligament to treat incontinence are disclosed. Additionally, a self tensioning elastic tissue bolster for support of the tissues that support the urethra, rectum, and bladder neck are disclosed. A method of treating incontinence by injecting proliferative agents into supportive structures is disclosed. Methods and apparatus for transvaginal and transperitieai pelvic floor bolster treatment of incontinence and bladder pillar systems are also disclosed.

An anterior implant adapted to treat central and lateral cystoceles present in a female patient includes laterally extending stabilizing straps for supporting the implant between the patient's bladder and vagina independently of the patient's arcus tendineous fascia pelvis. Rectocele and hysterocele repairs can be carried out using a single posterior implant which, like the anterior implant, is provided with laterally extending stabilizing straps for supporting the implant between the patient's rectum and vagina.

The endometriosis treatment protocol provides for administering to a female patient in need of treatment for endometriosis a pharmaceutical composition in a form suitable for vaginal or rectal delivery having a pharmaceutically effective amount of an aromatase inhibitor, which may be either a steroid or non-steroidal. The pharmaceutical composition may be formed as a vaginal suppository, a rectal suppository, a vaginal gel, a rectal gel, a vaginal cream or a rectal cream. The pharmaceutical composition may optionally have pharmaceutically effective amounts of progesterone and calcitriol, and may be administered in combination with an oral COX-2 inhibitor. Alternatively, the pharmaceutical composition comprises an aromatase inhibitor administered vaginally or rectally and is administered in combination with oral calcitriol and the oral COX-2 inhibitor. The aromatase inhibitor is either steroidal or non-steroidal.

A probe system for electro-stimulation and bio-feedback training of muscles in the pelvic floor region, in particular for pelvic floor physiotherapy and diagnosis, includes a probe having a probe body which is insertable into a vagina or a rectum, and a plurality of electrodes which are positioned at several locations along the length and around the circumference on the outer surface of the probe, the probe system further includes a control unit, operationally coupled to the probe, adapted for receiving EMG signals from each of the electrodes and for processing each of the signals for mapping the response of the muscles in the pelvic floor region.

A foldable brush self-sampling device for collecting of cell specimens from a body cavity, such as cervix, endometrium, rectum, nasal cavity and fauces, for diagnostic purposes, allows a user to collect cell specimens in the privacy of home. The device includes a sheath and a brush bar. The brush bar would fold into the sheath, which is with smaller diameter. The user inserts the sheath into the cavity easily and pushes the brush bar to expose the brush elements. After insertion of the sheath and push of the brush bar, the brush bar is rotated to obtain the specimen from the body cavity and then retracted in order to return the sheath.

A device, system, and method for entering a medical device such as a needle into the body inside a medical imager such as a MRI scanner, CT, X-ray fluoroscopy, and ultrasound imaging, from within a body cavity (such as the rectum, vagina, or laparoscopically accessed cavity). A three degree-of-freedom mechanical device translates and rotates inside the cavity and enters a needle into the body, and steers the needle to a target point selected by the user. The device is guided by real-time images from the medical imager. Networked computers process the medical images and enable the clinician to control the motion of the mechanical device that is operated within the imager, outside of the imager or remotely from outside the imager.

There is disclosed a method for treating anal incontinence in women. The method comprises accessing the rectum or colon or anus though an incision in the vagina and implanting a powered restriction device on the rectum, colon or anal sphincter. There are also disclosed methods for energizing and controlling the restriction device.

A method of treating anal incontinence in a patient comprises providing a sling having a central portion and first and second arms, creating a subcutaneous tunnel between a first buttock incision and a second buttock incision in the patient, mechanically widening the subcutaneous tunnel to create a pocket for the central portion of the sling, grasping the first arm of the sling and pulling the sling through the subcutaneous tunnel such that the central portion of the sling rests underneath the ano-rectum, inserting an introducer needle through a first thigh incision formed in the patient and advancing the introducer needle through the first buttock incision, pulling the first sling arm through the first thigh incision, inserting the introducer needle through a second thigh incision formed in the patient and advancing the introducer needle through the second buttock incision, and pulling the second sling arm through the second thigh incision.