Abstract: Gastrostomy tubes and systems and methods for implanting them are provided. In one example, the gastrostomy tube includes an elongate tubular member including a first end sized for introduction into the patient's mouth, a second end including an expandable member or other bumper, and a feeding lumen extending between the first and second ends. A bolster is connectable around the first end after the first end has been directed from within the patient's stomach through intervening tissue and extends from the patient's skin and the bumper is placed against the wall of the stomach. An adapter is connectable to the bolster after the first end and excess material of the tubular member beyond the bolster has been separated, the adapter including a connector for removably connecting to a feeding tube.

Abstract: An external neurostimulator includes a housing including a base housing and a top housing, a power source, a pulse generator, and a first and second series of spring-loaded pins electrically coupled to the pulse generator. The top housing includes a central portion, a first side door hingedly coupled to a first side of the central portion, and a second side door hingedly coupled to a second side of the central portion. Each of the first side door and the second side door include a channel formed thereon that is configured to directly receive a proximal end portion of an implantable lead. Each channel includes a series of longitudinally spaced-apart openings formed on the first side door and the second side door, respectively. The first and second series of spring-loaded pins extend through the series of longitudinally spaced-apart openings of the channel on the first and second side doors, respectively.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are provided to maintain or enhance blood flow through the blood vessel. Balloon-expandable, bioresorbable, vascular stent elements that provides high radial force at the arterial wall while still preserving patency of the lumen during bending are described herein. Multiple, short, balloon-expandable scaffolds mounted in series on a delivery system and deployed simultaneously via a single balloon inflation are described. The individual scaffolds maintain the arterial lumen with high radial force while the inter-scaffold spaces are free to bend and compress during limb movement. The result is an artery in which the lumen is both adequately preserved and effectively stented.

Abstract: A multi-element, vascular stent may be used to maintain or enhance patency of a blood vessel. The stent may be used in peripheral blood vessels, which may be long and/or tortuous. By using multiple, separate stent elements that are balloon expandable, the multi-element stent may be stronger than a traditional self-expanding stent but may also be more flexible, due to its multiple-element configuration, than a traditional balloon-expandable stent. Individual stent elements shorten upon expansion creating a space between stent elements. The distance between stent elements when deployed may be based on characteristics of the stent and the target vessel location such that the stent elements do not touch one another during skeletal movement.

Abstract: A multi-element, vascular stent may be used to maintain or enhance patency of a blood vessel. The stent may be used in peripheral blood vessels, which may be long and/or tortuous. By using multiple, separate stent elements that are balloon expandable, the multi-element stent may be stronger than a traditional self-expanding stent but may also be more flexible, due to its multiple-element configuration, than a traditional balloon-expandable stent. Individual stent elements shorten upon expansion creating a space between stent elements. The distance between stent elements when deployed may be based on characteristics of the stent and the target vessel location such that the stent elements do not touch one another during skeletal movement. Thus, the multi-element, vascular stent described herein may be particularly advantageous for treating long lesions in tortuous peripheral blood vessels.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are provided to maintain or enhance blood flow through the blood vessel. Balloon-expandable, bioresorbable, vascular stent elements configured to be implanted in the blood vessel are described herein. Stent elements comprise a closed cell pattern configured to provide their greatest radial strength at or near the diameters of their intended therapeutic use.

Abstract: A multi-element, vascular stent may be used to maintain or enhance patency of a blood vessel. The stent may be used in peripheral blood vessels, which may be long and/or tortuous. By using multiple, separate stent elements that are balloon expandable, the multi-element stent may be stronger than a traditional self-expanding stent but may also be more flexible, due to its multiple-element configuration, than a traditional balloon-expandable stent. Individual stent elements shorten upon expansion creating a space between stent elements. The distance between stent elements when deployed may be based on characteristics of the stent and the target vessel location such that the stent elements do not touch one another during skeletal movement.

Abstract: A device for delivering a substance to an airway of a patient may include a laryngeal mask airway device, at least one substance delivery reservoir coupled with the laryngeal mask airway device for delivering the substance to the airway of the patient, and at least one conduit coupled with the laryngeal mask airway. The at least one conduit may have a proximal end configured to couple with a source of the substance residing outside the patient and a distal end in fluid communication with the at least one substance delivery reservoir.

Abstract: A device for delivering a substance to an airway of a patient may include a laryngeal mask airway device, at least one substance delivery reservoir coupled with the laryngeal mask airway device for delivering the substance to the airway of the patient, and at least one conduit coupled with the laryngeal mask airway. The at least one conduit may have a proximal end configured to couple with a source of the substance residing outside the patient and a distal end in fluid communication with the at least one substance delivery reservoir.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved separating device for providing the malabsorptive component of a minimally invasive weight reduction system. This device may be a sleeve, liner, or tubular sheath that alters absorption of compositions through walls of hollow organs (stomach, intestines). The improvement involves better long-term retention through the ability of the device to engage with the interserosal fibrotic tissue formed in an intussusception. The separating device may be a distal extension of a retaining member that is directly engaged with and retained by intussuscepted tissue. Intussusception shrinks a hollow organ to provide a volume reducing restrictive component of a weight reduction system. Securing the separating device to an intussusception avoids retention problems of reference art devices as interserosal fibrosis helps secure the device. Also provided are an apparatus for retaining the device, a device and method for delivering the separating device, and a method for removing it.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved separating device for providing the malabsorptive component of a minimally invasive weight reduction system. This device may be a sleeve, liner, or tubular sheath that alters absorption of compositions through walls of hollow organs (stomach, intestines). The improvement involves better long-term retention through the ability of the device to engage with the interserosal fibrotic tissue formed in an intussusception. The separating device may be a distal extension of a retaining member that is directly engaged with and retained by intussuscepted tissue. Intussusception shrinks a hollow organ to provide a volume reducing restrictive component of a weight reduction system. Securing the separating device to an intussusception avoids retention problems of reference art devices as interserosal fibrosis helps secure the device. Also provided are an apparatus for retaining the device, a device and method for delivering the separating device, and a method for removing it.

Abstract: A prosthesis comprises a tubular body that is expandable from a contracted configuration to a radially expanded configuration. The tubular body has a total length and comprises a first section, a second section and a central section disposed therebetween. The total length of the tubular body in the expanded configuration is at least 95% of the total length of the tubular body in the contracted configuration. The three sections have a plurality of tubular rings, each with a plurality of struts having a length and coupled together to form a series of peaks and valleys. A connector couples adjacent tubular rings together. The length of the central section struts is different than the length of the other struts and the central section is coupled with both the first and second sections.

Abstract: A system for treating an aneurysm in a blood vessel comprises a docking scaffold having with upstream and downstream ends, and a central passageway therebetween. The upstream end engages the blood vessel upstream of the aneurysm. A portion of a first and second scaffolds are slidably received in the central passageway such that an outside surface of the first and second scaffolds engage an inside surface of the docking scaffold. A double-walled filling structure has outer and inner walls and the filling structure is adapted to be filled with a hardenable fluid filling medium so that the outer wall conforms to an inside surface of the aneurysm and the inner wall forms a substantially tubular lumen to provide a path for blood flow therethrough. The double-walled filling structure is coupled with at least one of the first and second leg scaffolds in expanded configuration.