| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080233167 | UROLOGICAL MEDICAL DEVICES FOR RELEASE OF PROSTATICALLY BENEFICIAL THERAPEUTIC AGENTS - According to an aspect of the invention, urological medical devices are provided, which comprise a prostatically beneficial agent selected from alpha-adrenergic blockers, antispasmodic agents, anticholinergic/antimuscarinic agents, calcium channel blockers, anti-inflammatory agents, hormone-affecting agents, anti-cancer agents, and combinations thereof, among others. The urological medical devices are adapted for implantation or insertion into a subject's urinary tract, whereupon at least a portion of the prostatically beneficial agent is released into the subject's prostatic urethra. The release profile of the prostatically beneficial agent is effective to treat a prostatic disorder, for example, benign prostate hypertrophy, prostate cancer or prostatitis, among others. Other aspects of the invention are directed to treating prostatic disorders. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20080234659 | UROLOGICAL MEDICAL DEVICES FOR RELEASE OF THERAPEUTIC AGENTS - According to an aspect of the present invention, urological medical devices are provided, which contain one or more urologically beneficial agents selected from alpha-adrenergic blockers, calcium channel blockers, and combinations thereof, among others. The urological devices are adapted for implantation or insertion into a subject's urinary tract, whereupon at least a portion of the urologically beneficial agent is released. Such agents are urologically beneficial, for example, in that they may relieve pain and/or discomfort associated with the medical device and/or act as stone expulsion agents (i.e., they facilitate stone passage), among other benefits. According to an aspect of the present invention, a method of treating kidney stones is provided which comprises: (a) diagnosing the presence of kidney stones within a subject and (b) implanting or inserting a urological medical device into the subject which contains at least one urologically beneficial agent. The medical device is adapted to release the at least one urologically beneficial agent in vivo in an amount effective to promote kidney stone expulsion. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20080319539 | Resorption-controllable medical implants - Bioresorbable medical implants are designed to have different resorption rates over time or over the topography of the implants. The resorption of the medical implants are controlled by including layers having differing resorption rates. The layers resorb sequentially over time through sequential exposure to body fluids. A resorption-controllable medical implant includes a series of two or more layers. The first layer includes a first bioresorbable material. The second layer includes a second bioresorbable material and resorbable particles of a first kind dispersed within the second bioresorbable material. Additional layers of bioresorbable material alone or including resorbable particles may be added to slow or speed resorption and achieve desired control over the resorption of the implant. Resorbable particles can be added in differing amounts or kinds in various segments of the implant to provide topographically differing resorption rates. | 12-25-2008 |
| 20090076318 | Expandable surgical implants and methods of using them - Disclosed herein are expandable surgical implants that may be expanded one or more times by directly or indirectly uncinching one or more expansion loops. Use of the expandable surgical implant permits a physician to expand, with minimal invasion, a surgical implant that was over-tensioned by a surgeon during implantation or became over-tensioned due to changes in the patient's anatomy. | 03-19-2009 |
| 20090117053 | LOCAL DELIVERY OF 5-AMINOLEVULINIC-ACID BASED COMPOUNDS TO TISSUES AND ORGANS FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC PURPOSES - In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a 5-aminolevulinic-acid-based compound (ALA-based compound) is delivered locally to a tissue or organ within a subject's body. In another aspect, a method of diagnosis or treatment is provided which comprises: (a) locally delivering an ALA-based compound to a tissue or organ within a subject's body and (b) illuminating the tissue or organ with light having a wavelength suitable to induce fluorescence of protoporphyrin IX (PPIX). In some embodiments, a local therapeutic agent is delivered to the targeted tissue or organ for treatment. In another aspect, formulations containing the ALA-based compound are provided. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090171143 | DEVICES AND METHOD FOR TREATING PELVIC DYSFUNCTIONS - In one embodiment, a method includes securing an implant that includes a pre-formed loop to a vaginal apex. An end of the suture is inserted through a selected portion of a pelvic tissue to dispose at least a portion of the implant within a pelvic region of the patient. The end of the suture is drawn through the loop while simultaneously advancing a uterus to approximate the vaginal apex to the selected portion of pelvic tissue. An apparatus includes an implant and a suture coupled to the implant having a pre-formed loop. configured to receive a portion of a delivery device therethrough. A trocar is coupled to an end of the suture that can be releasably coupled to an end of the delivery device. The trocar can be inserted through a pelvic tissue and drawn through the loop forming a knot to secure the implant to the pelvic tissue. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090171377 | MESHES OF VARIABLE CONSTRUCTION - According to one aspect, the present invention provides a substantially two-dimensional surgical mesh comprising a base material, a first area having a first characteristic and a second area having a second characteristic that differs from the first characteristic. The surgical mesh may further comprise a third area having a third characteristic that may be the same as or different from the first and second characteristics, and so on. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090171465 | Polymeric Regions For Implantable Or Insertable Medical Devices - According to one aspect, the present invention is directed to implantable or insertable medical devices which comprise polymeric regions that comprise high vinyl acetate content EVA (or another soft polymer) and a therapeutic agent. In another aspect, the present invention is directed to implantable or insertable medical devices which comprise (a) a first region comprising a first EVA and (b) a second region adjacent to the first region that is of lower durometer than the first region. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090248169 | URETERAL STENTS FOR RELEASE OF UROLOGICALLY BENEFICIAL AGENTS - According to one aspect of the invention, ureteral stents are provided that comprise an elongated stent body and a urologically beneficial agent. The elongated stent body comprises a kidney portion adapted to occupy the kidney of a subject upon implantation, a ureter portion adapted to occupy the ureter of a subject upon implantation, and a bladder portion adapted to occupy the bladder of a subject upon implantation. The ureteral stents of the invention are adapted to release the urologically beneficial agent into the subject. Moreover, the amount of urologically beneficial agent that is released varies along the length of the stent. Other aspects of the invention pertain to methods of forming such stents and methods of using such stents. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090281558 | SURGICAL MESHES WITH RADIOPAQUE COATINGS - According to an aspect of the present invention, implantable medical articles are provided, which comprise a surgical mesh that is at least partially covered with a coating that comprises a radiopaque material such as a metal or a metallic compound. The radiopaque material is present in the coating in an amount such that the coated portions of the mesh are visible using radiographic imaging techniques. Other aspects of the invention pertain to methods of making and using such medical articles. | 11-12-2009 |
| 20090281635 | ANTIMICROBIAL MEDICAL DEVICES - According to an aspect of the present invention, medical devices are provided whose surfaces are partially covered with a coating that further comprises silver nanoparticles. Other aspects of the invention pertain to methods of making and using such medical devices. | 11-12-2009 |
| 20090326450 | STEERABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - A steerable medical device is used to controllably introduce a guidewire or other medical instrument into a body of a patient and direct placement of the guidewire or other medical instrument in the body of the patient. The steerable medical device can include an elongated member, a steering mechanism, and an attachment member. The elongated member extends along a longitudinal axis and comprises a deflectable distal portion that is deflectable off of the longitudinal axis. The steering mechanism is adapted to control longitudinal and rotational movement of the elongated member and to control off-axis deflection of its deflectable portion. The attachment member is removably couplable to another medical device. The attachment member is moveably coupled to the steering mechanism and the elongated member. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20100042207 | RESORPTION-CONTROLLABLE MEDICAL IMPLANTS - Bioresorbable medical implants are designed to have different resorption rates over time or over the topography of the implants. The resorption of the medical implants are controlled by including layers having differing resorption rates. The layers resorb sequentially over time through sequential exposure to body fluids. A resorption-controllable medical implant includes a series of two or more layers. The first layer includes a first bioresorbable material. The second layer includes a second bioresorbable material and resorbable particles of a first kind dispersed within the second bioresorbable material. Additional layers of bioresorbable material alone or including resorbable particles may be added to slow or speed resorption and achieve desired control over the resorption of the implant. Resorbable particles can be added in differing amounts or kinds in various segments of the implant to provide topographically differing resorption rates. | 02-18-2010 |
| 20100145467 | Porous Ureteral Stent - In some embodiments, a stent includes an elongate member and a distal retention member. The elongate member is configured to be disposed within a ureter of a patient and has a first portion, a second portion and a plurality of beads bonded together. The plurality of beads define a plurality of spaces between the plurality of beads. The plurality of spaces are configured to allow fluid to flow from the first portion of the elongate member to the second portion of the elongate member. The distal retention member is configured to help maintain a portion of the stent within a kidney of the patient. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100160848 | Ureteral Stent - In some embodiments, a ureteral stent includes an elongate member having a first portion and a second portion, which is coupled to the first portion. The first portion of the elongate member is configured to be disposed within a kidney of a patient. The second portion of the elongate member, which has a sidewall that defines a lumen, is configured to deliver fluid from a first location of the sidewall of the second portion to a second location of the sidewall of the second portion via capillary action. The second portion of the elongate member is configured to be disposed within at least one of a bladder and a ureter of the patient. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100294282 | OCCLUSION OF FALLOPIAN TUBES IN A VERTEBRATE SUBJECT - According to one claim of the invention, a method for occluding a fallopian tube in a vertebrate subject is described, which comprises comprising transcervically delivering a solid blocking material into the fallopian tube. In various embodiments, a fluid sealing material is delivered along with the solid blocking material. Other claims of the invention pertain to articles of manufacture, delivery devices and kits for use in occluding the fallopian tubes of a vertebrate subject. | 11-25-2010 |
| 20110064774 | BULKING AGENT - The invention relates to bulking agents and apparatus and methods for using the disclosed bulking agents. The bulking agents can be used to treat such conditions as urinary and fecal incontinence, gastro-esophageal reflux, aneurismal blockages, and cosmetic deformities. The invention also relates to an injection method that reduces the injection pressure required to place the bulking agents. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110091519 | CONTROLLING RESORPTION OF BIORESORBABLE MEDICAL IMPLANT MATERIAL - The resorption of a medical implant can be controlled with the use of particles embedded in a resorbable bulk material forming the implant or portion thereof. The implant can be removed from a body of a mammal by natural biological mechanisms after use. The resorption of the implant can involve swelling and/or hydrolyzing of the particles within the implant upon contact with a body fluid such that porosity and flow of fluid within the bulk material of the implant is increased. Resorption of the implant may also involve the use of particles with magnetic properties embedded within the implant such that an applied magnetic field causes the particles to vibrate within the bulk material thereby increasing the porosity and thus the flow of fluid, hence facilitating resorption of the implant. The resorption rate of the implant can be controlled by modulating swelling, hydrolysis, or movement of the embedded particles. | 04-21-2011 |
| 20110106108 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DELIVERY OF MESH-BASED DEVICES - In some embodiments, a stylet includes a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a medial portion between the proximal end portion and the distal end portion. The distal end portion of the stylet is configured to be releasably coupled to a first portion of an implant. The medial portion of the stylet has at least one retention member configured to be releasably coupled to a second portion of the implant. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110152914 | LESS TRAUMATIC METHOD OF DELIVERY OF MESH-BASED DEVICES INTO HUMAN BODY - In some embodiments, a method includes extending a dilator into a body of a patient in a first direction such that a distal end portion of the dilator extends from the body. The dilator defines a lumen therethrough. At least a portion of the dilator is disposed within the body when the distal end portion extends from the body. At least a portion of an implant is passed through the lumen defined by the dilator. The dilator is removed from the body by moving the dilator in the first direction. | 06-23-2011 |
