1486 results about "Urethra" patented technology

Devices, systems and methods for compressing, cutting, incising, reconfiguring, remodeling, attaching, repositioning, supporting, dislocating or altering the composition of tissues or anatomical structures to alter their positional or force relationship to other tissues or anatomical structures. In some applications, the invention may be used to used to improve patency or fluid flow through a body lumen or cavity (e.g., to limit constriction of the urethra by an enlarged prostate gland).

A device and method for treatment of urinary stress incontinence. At least one electrode is implanted in a pelvic muscle of a patient. A control unit receives signals indicative of abdominal stress in the patient and responsive thereto applies an electrical waveform to the electrode which stimulates the muscle to contract, so as to inhibit involuntary urine flow through the patient's urethra due to the stress.

The invention relates to a surgical instrument and a method for treating female urinary incontinence. A tape or mesh is permanently implanted into the body as a support for the urethra. In one embodiment, portions of the tape comprise tissue growth factors and adhesive bonding means for attaching portions of the tape to the pubic bone. In a further embodiment, portions of the tape comprise attachment means for fastening portions of the tape to fascia within the pelvic cavity. In both embodiments the tape is implanted with a single incision through the vaginal wall.

A sling for controlling urinary incontinence is disclosed. The sling is formed from a tube having substantially lengthwise inextensible end portions and an elastically lengthwise extensible intermediate portion between the end portions. The intermediate portion has a U-shape which cradles the urethra. The end portions extend through the abdominal tissue to anchor the intermediate portion in position. The sling places the urethra under a transverse compressive load to hold it closed and prevent inadvertent urination. The tube is formed from interlaced filamentary members. Interlacing may be by warp knitting, weaving using a leno weave or braiding using a tri-axial braid structure. The end portions have a rough texture to facilitate anchoring in the tissue of the abdominal wall. The intermediate portion is smooth and soft to prevent tissue erosion.

A system for deploying and retrieving implantable articles, such as balloons, typically for treating incontinence, from the bladder includes a urethral module, this deployed in the urethra and bladder with the coupling of a mandrel. The deployed urethral module, with the mandrel removed therefrom, provides a channel to the bladder for a magazine unit, that deploys the balloon, and a retriever, that retrieves the balloon, and is ultimately removed from the body with the balloon in a deflated or contracted state.

Described herein are devices, systems and methods for treatment of tissue within a lumen of a body. For example, the devices described herein may be used to treat the urethra or gastrointestinal tract, including a sphincter. These devices may provide an expandable element at the distal end of an elongate body and may also include a plurality of electrodes (e.g., needle electrodes) configured to extend from the device and into the tissue to deliver energy to multiple, circumferentially arranged treatment sites. Sufficient energy may be delivered from the device to create a desired tissue effect.

Apparatus and methods are provided, including a bladder stimulator that includes an elongate element adapted to pass through a urethra or adapted to pass through another opening in the bladder, an expandable body coupled to said elongate element, and an array of one or more stimulator contacts coupled to the expandable body, the array including at least one contact adapted to contact a portion of a bladder of a subject when the expandable body is inserted in the bladder and expanded. A controller stimulates the portion of the bladder by driving a pulse into the bladder via the contact, the pulse having a frequency of 5 Hz-1 kHz. Other applications are also described.

Indwelling catheter having an upper distal end having a portion that can expand within a bladder type spaces without having to be inflated. An embodiment allows for at least one slit on an upper side of the catheter tube and a head member that when pulled down by a stylette moving inside the catheter causes a bulge wing portion(s) that holds the catheter safely and painlessly within the bladder. Magnetic and electret valves can be included inside the tube of the catheter that can cycle between open and closed positions when activated by normal bladder pressure when urination is desired. The novel catheter tube can naturally conform to an opening and closing urethra during natural bladder drainage. The catheter tube surface can include an anti-microbial layer that is either or both coated and impregnated thereon with either an antibacterial and/or hydrophyllic materials. Sampling ports can be located on both inside catheter tube valves and on an externally attached magnetic valve.

The present invention provides a liquid polymer composition which can be implanted into a living mammal and which forms a solid hydrogel by in situ polymerization upon contact with body fluid and tissue. The composition also can be used as a coating on a medical device, or for the formation of a medical device. Formation of a solid implant or coating involves crosslinking of the adhesive with itself and with surrounding tissue. The liquid implant, by itself or in conjunction with various prostheses, can be used for many purposed, including fixation of the urethra for providing treatment for incontinence, and repair of herniations in the abdominal cavity, including rectocele, cystocele, enterocele, and inguinal hernia. The adhesive may be used to establish adhesion prevention during such repairs, in part by coating or being the material of a repair mesh.

The present invention provides systems and methods for the evaluation of the urethra and periurethral tissues using an MRI coil adapted for insertion into the male, female or pediatric urethra. The MRI coil may be in electrical communication with an interface circuit made up of a tuning-matching circuit, a decoupling circuit and a balun circuit. The interface circuit may also be in electrical communication with a MRI machine. In certain practices, the present invention provides methods for the diagnosis and treatment of conditions involving the urethra and periurethral tissues, including disorders of the female pelvic floor, conditions of the prostate and anomalies of the pediatric pelvis.

The present invention provides a surgical implant and method for supporting the urethra where the implant includes a suburethral support suspended between two soft tissue anchors. The surgical implant is introduced into at least one incision made on the upper wall of a vagina with the first soft tissue anchor inserted on a first side of the urethra behind the pubic bone, and the second soft tissue anchor inserted on a second side of the urethra behind the pubic bone, such that the suburethral support is suspended from the soft tissue anchors and supports the urethra. Each of the first and second soft tissue anchors are inserted in, and fix in, the soft tissue of the perineum without penetrating the obturator foramen.

Self-anchoring slings and deployment mechanisms for use therewith in selectively positioning a sling into position within the body. According to a preferred embodiment, the sling comprises an elongate sling portion having opposed ends. Formed upon each respective opposed end is an anchor member operative to be advanced through soft tissue at a selected target site in a first direction but resist movement in an opposed direction. Such anchor members are operative to extend in opposed directions to thus enable a sling to be securely affixed into position and resist sag or otherwise lose its ability to support a given structure. The deployment system is operative to selectively anchor the respective anchor members into position within a tissue mass. Although suitable for a wide variety of applications, it is believed that the system and sling of the present invention are particularly well suited for the deployment of suburethral slings via a trans-obturator route.

The invention provides a prosthetic implant for supporting the urethra, the implant comprising a flexible elongate element and being provided: with a central portion for being positioned beneath the urethra when the elongate element is in its functional position in the body; and two ends situated on either side of the central portion; wherein said ends are positioned relative to the central portion in such a manner that when the elongate element is in the functional position, one of the ends of the elongate element is disposed between the right internal obturator muscle and the right external obturator muscle, while the other end is disposed between the left internal obturator muscle and the left external obturator muscle. The prosthetic implant is suitable for correcting urinary incontinence.

A surgical method for treating urinary incontinence by securing a suture within a patient's body, retrieving a portion of the suture into the patient's vagina, and supporting the patient's urethra using the suture. A surgical method for elevating a patient's urethra in order to treat urinary incontinence, a surgical method for securing an anchor in a patient, a helical anchor and an anchor-insertion tool are also provided.

Various embodiments of open system heat exchange catheters and methods of use are disclosed. The various catheters can be used with various ablative surgical devices. One specific exemplary use is in conjunction with cryosurgical probes involving ablation of the prostate, in which the integrity of the urethra is desired to be maintained. Other uses involve various heating ablative devices. In one embodiment an injection tube assembly is used to provide heat exchange fluid through the urethra to the bladder where it is then expelled via a suprapubic suction tube. In other embodiments a coaxial tube assembly is utilized which defines a passageway for either expelling the bladder fluid or for providing access to an endoscope. In other embodiments a double lumen assembly is utilized that defines a passageway for expelling bladder fluid.

A new, quick, simple, efficient, safe, and reproducible surgical technique for the treatment of female urinary incontinence, in which the posterior urethra is suspended using a tape passed through the obturator orifices from inside (underneath the urethra) to outside (thigh folds). A variety of specifically designed surgical instruments are utilized to perform this operative procedure.

Disclosed is an instrument, assembly, and method for use in a procedure to effect anastomosis of a patient's bladder and urethra following a prostatectomy. The instrument comprises a tube assembly having an end effector assembly operably supported thereby, where the end effector assembly includes a harness adapted to receive a balloon portion of a balloon catheter assembly.

Surgical implants operative to simultaneously function as a pubovaginal sling for the treatment of incontinence and as a support member to effectuate cystocele repair. The implant comprises a first sling portion operative to be positioned beneath the urethra, per conventional pubovaginal sling surgery. The implant further includes a second bladder support portion extending from the sling support portion that is oriented to extend beneath and be surgically attached to a portion of the bladder to thus enable the same to be supported to a degree necessary to effectuate cystocele repair. The implant may be fabricated from a unitary piece of harvested tissue, synthetic material or combinations thereof. Preferably, the sling portion of the implant is fabricated from a synthetic material whereas the bladder support portion of the implant comprises a segment of harvested tissue sewn to the sling portion.