Abstract: A penile implant to irreversibly and definitively lengthen the corpus cavernosum by using the tissue expansion phenomenon. The implant includes a pressure chamber, a pressure regulator for regulating the pressure in the pressure chamber, an irreversibly extensible device, and a body of synthetic material of a predetermined length and covered with a tip. The device is used to permanently lengthen the male penis.

Abstract: A female urinary incontinence device (2) and method comprises an elongate body (4) and a pair of anterior support members (6, 8) extending from the proximal end of the elongate body. The anterior support members are spaced from each other and configured for elevating and/or supporting the superior vaginal tissue (122) on each side of the bladder neck (106) to normalize urodynamic parameters without completely occluding the urethra (108) so that the patient may urinate or not urinate, if desired. A pair of posterior support members (10, 12) extend from the distal end of the elongate body for engaging the posterior vaginal wall (120) to provide longitudinal support to the anterior support members. The device may be folded axially between a collapsed position for insertion into the vagina (100) and an expanded position for supporting the bladder neck to offer counterpressure to intra-bladder pressure so that continence is preserved.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for treating urinary incontinence in a mammal wherein a composition comprising a biocompatible polymer, a biocompatible solvent, and a contrast agent is delivered to the periurethral tissue of the mammal.

Abstract: A magnetic therapeutic device including a flexible elasticized loop-type fabric band or belt having a buckle loop at one end and a hook-type fastening element (VELCRO) at the other end thereof for securing the band or belt around the to-be-treated portion of a user's body, one or more magnetizable stainless steel C-shaped clips slidably mounted for adjustable positioning on the band or belt, each clip having at least one recess for magnetically holding at least one small high-intensity permanent magnet therein.

Abstract: A gauge strip of flexible material having distal and proximal end portions has a cursor slot in its proximal end portion with graduation marks and penile constriction ring size indicia between the end portions for the distal end of the strip to be passed through the cursor slot to form a loop that is pulled tight on the penis for the cursor slot to coincide with an elastic ring size indicia that is read to select a ring or vacuum tube penis entry opening of the appropriate percentage of the penis size for developing an erection by vacuum exposure, maintaining an erection with the ring, or using the ring as a condom retainer.

Abstract: A clamping force mechanism for use with electrosurgery allow a user to seal and/or join patient's particular vascular tissue; the mechanism is elongate with user and patient ends. An actuator is at the user end and the effectors are at the patient end. Each effector has a face of an area to contact the particular vascular tissue. A lost motion connection transfers user actuation to the effectors to hold a predetermined clamping force during electrosurgical tissue sealing. A yielding member in the loss motion connection clamps the particular tissue between the faces with a predetermined force. The yielding member is a spring, slip clutch or hydraulic coupling possibly near the actuator. An active electrode is carried on one end effector and a return electrode contacts the tissue so an electrosurgical energy supply connected thereacross delivers energy therebetween. A feedback circuit responds to parameters of energy delivered to tissue.

Abstract: A method of performing endometrial ablation comprising heating entire surface of the endometrium to a temperature of between 45.degree. C. and 70.degree. C. to destroy the cells of the endometrial lining while maintaining the average temperature of the myometrium at a temperature below approximately 42.degree. C. An apparatus for performing an endometrial ablation comprising an expandable membrane such as a balloon adapted to fit within the uterus and contact the endometrial lining when expanded. A web of light diffusing fiber-optic cables arranged on the outer surface the balloon such that the web contacts the endometrial lining of the uterus when the balloon is expanded. The fiber-optic web is connected to an array of high intensity lamps via a series of fiber-optic cables. The temperature of the endometrium is monitored by a of a series of temperature sensors arranged upon the surface of the balloon.

Abstract: A method for evaluating the electromotility of hair cells within the cochlea of a mammalian ear by providing an electrode in proximate relation with the round window and applying electricity therethrough in order to electrically excite hair cells within the cochlea to produce electrically-evoked otoacoustic emissions therefrom. The electrically-evoked otoacoustic emissions further excite the internal structure of the cochlea which produces vibrations at the oval window that act through the bones of the middle ear to drive the tympanic membrane, producing corresponding acoustic sounds in the ear canal. The resulting acoustic sounds in the ear canal are subsequently detected with a microphone where they are later measured and characterized via readily available signal processing techniques.

Abstract: The present invention provides a surgical method for reducing the food intake of a patient by dissecting the lower part of the Esophagus of a patient, applying a band to form a loop around the lower part of the Esophagus and displacing an upper part of the stomach through the loop, thereby forming a small pouch above the band wherein the final position of the band is above the Bursa Omentalis.

Abstract: An optical system which utilizes a conventional light source to produce a narrowly focused beam of radiation having intensity similar to that produced by a laser. The system broadly includes an omnidirectional light source and an elliptical reflector, wherein the physical parameters of the light source and the reflector are matched to produce a narrowly focused beam of intense radiation. The light produced by the system is coupled into a fiber optic system for delivery to the target area. In one embodiment, a mirrored surface having an aperture therein is placed at a point near the second focal point of the reflector. The aperture is positioned such that only rays meeting predetermined geometrical exit criteria can pass through the aperture and be accepted by the fiber optic located at the second focal point. Those rays which do not meet the exit criteria are reflected by the mirrored surface toward the interior of the cavity.

Abstract: A pH-measuring method and device for monitoring and then correcting for electrode drift is provided. The device includes a pH-measuring electrode and more than one reference electrode. During operation, the pH-measuring device is place in contact with a sample. The pH value measured at each electrode pair is due to the electrical potential difference between the pH electrode and the reference electrode. The maximum and minimum pH values are determined, and then the remaining pH values are averaged together to generate an overall average pH. The maximum and minimum pH values are subtracted from the average pH to generate a difference which is then compared to a user-defined drift level to determine if a particular electrode is deficient. The pH values from deficient electrodes are not considered when the overall pH of the sample is determined.

Abstract: A method of permanent hair removal which uses a high energy light source projected at the skin to cause death of the hair follicle by photothermolysis. The process uses either incoherent or coherent light energy. Additional melanin is added to the skin by a process which delivers the melanin to the region of the hair follicle thereby enhancing that area as a light absorbing target. Collateral damage to the surrounding skin tissue is minimized. The delivery process uses liposomes selected particularly to encapsulate and carry melanin to the target region. The invention also encompasses a general method of deleterious tissue destruction by selective introduction of melanin and subsequent photothermolysis.

Abstract: A device for healing wounds and sores with the aid of light, including a light emitting element which is intended to lie against or be held close to a wound or sore on the body of an individual, and a drive arrangement for driving the light emitting element, wherein the light emitting element includes light emitting diodes or like devices and is constructed to emit infrared light. The drive arrangement (8, 9, 19) is constructed to cause the light emitting element (1) to emit infrared light in a first stage for a first predetermined length of time and thereafter to emit visible red light in a second stage for a second predetermined length of time. The drive arrangement (8, 9, 10) is also constructed to cause the light emitting element (1) to pulsate the emitted infrared light and the emitted red light respectively in accordance with a predetermined series of pulse frequencies over the predetermined time periods.

Abstract: A method and device for selective photothermolysis of a surgical target within surrounding tissue. The target and the surrounding tissue are heated to about 60.degree. C. Then the target is heated to the point of coagulation, preferably by monochromatic light. The temperature difference between the coagulating target and the surrounding tissue is sufficiently mild that heat diffusing out of the target does not damage the surrounding tissue, even in the case of a relatively large target such as varicose veins.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for treating urinary incontinence in a mammal wherein a composition comprising a biocompatible polymer, a biocompatible solvent, and a contrast agent is delivered to the periurethral tissue of the mammal.

Abstract: A urinary incontinence control device including a catheter with a laterally extending projection which can be elastically deformed by an actuator from a protruding position for retention to a non-protruding position for catheter insertion and removal. The actuator is slidably disposed in the catheter for retracting the projection. The catheter has a connector at a proximal end for locking the actuator in the catheter when the projection is retracted facilitating insertion and removal of the device in the urinary tract of a human female.

Abstract: A bipolar coagulation forceps 1 with a connection 2 for high frequency energy and two forceps limbs 4 capable of being pressed together against a spring tension is so constructed that a rinsing tube can be provided in a simple manner and without impinging on the space between the forceps limbs 4. For this purpose, the forceps limbs 4 comprise grips 5 which can be pushed together against spring tension with working limbs 6 subsequently fastened on them, whereby then at least one of the working limbs 6 has a hollow cross section or is constructed as a tube and has a connection 7 for the rinsing fluid, so that guidance parts 11 can be arranged between the grips 5 for the reciprocal guidance of the working tips 3 of the forceps 1. The working limbs 6 are for this reason arranged on parallel narrow sides 8 of the grips 5, that is lateral to the grip areas, where the guiding parts 11 are accommodated.

Abstract: Cardiomyoplasty is a high mortality procedure (fifty percent two year mortality) with limited hemodynamic benefit. Excision of left ventricular myocardium in dilated congestive heart failure is also a high mortality procedure (forty percent one year mortality), but is one which may produce significant hemodynamic improvement in some patients although it can produce fatal hemodynamic deterioration in other patients. Use of cardiomyoplasty following the resection of ventricular myocardial tissue to reduce the diameter of the ventricular chamber provides replacement muscle mass and permits the cardiomyoplasty to function more effectively. The invention provides a new operation to achieve low mortality, which combines the previous two procedures described above in such a way that the strengths of each procedure overcomes the weaknesses of the other.

Abstract: A non-contact tonometer measures an intraocular pressure precisely based on a deformation amount of a cornea when a pressurized pulse of air is injected to the cornea. The intraocular pressure is measured on the basis of the maximum value of a correlation function curve, instead of detecting a peak of a light changing curve.

Abstract: A sexual aid including a housing, mounted on detachable legs and containing a motor that urges a dildo, including vibration means, to describe an arcuate path generally coincident with an orifice, such as a vagina. A first stimulator, also containing vibration means, is superposed above the dildo and is urged through an arcuate path concentric with and radially spaced inwardly from that of the dildo, cyclically contacting a clitoris. The sexual aid may include means for introducing a vacuum between the first stimulator and the clitoris. A second stimulator, also containing vibration means, is subjacent the dildo and is urged through an arcuate path concentric with and radially spaced outwardly from that of the dildo, cyclically contacting an anus. The sexual aid includes remotely locatable stimulators that may be placed in contact with a user's nipples and areolae. The sexual aid also provides a vacuum phenomenon between the remotely locatable stimulators and the nipples.