Abstract: In one embodiment, an implant is configured to be placed within a body of a patient. The implant includes a support member. The support member is configured to be placed adjacent a vaginal apex of a patient. The support member has a length sufficient to extend the length of the vaginal apex but not of a length sufficient to extend from the vaginal apex to a location between a vagina of the patient and a rectum of the patient. The implant also includes first and second arm members coupled to the support member. The arm members are configured to be coupled to bodily tissue of the patient to help secure the implant within the body of the patient.

Abstract: Improvements in an outside house vent that blocks embers, water and rain that can cause damage to a house of building. The prevention of fire and ember intrusion into a building prevents fires in homes where invalids and children are left alone. The prevention of water into structure further reduces the potential for mold growth in the attic or walls of a home or structure. The filtering further prevents intrusion of creatures such as but not limited to bugs, insects, bees, wasps, animals, critters and other flying and crawling animals from entering the building. The vent is a fireproof set of louver or filter pads with fire arresting screens that is passed through a wall that vents into the building. The vent can be installed on old and new construction to provide improved fire prevention, increase the value and salability in fire prone areas.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to systems and methods for detecting and/or treating lower urinary tract conditions. One embodiment of the invention is directed to a medical device. The medical device includes an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end and an end effector assembly that extends distally from the distal end of the elongate member. The end effector assembly includes a plurality of end effector units. Each end effector unit has a sensing element for detecting a location of abnormal organ function and a treatment element for treating the location of abnormal organ function.

Abstract: An association between a set of data and a pre-storage operation is obtained where the set of data is defined in a manner that permits the set of data to include more than one unit of data. In response to receiving data which meets the definition of the set of data, the pre-storage operation is performed on the received data and the output of the pre-storage operation is stored.

Abstract: A catalog of one or more metadata objects associated with metadata is stored in a persistent manner. The data objects are stored at least in part on a user node included in a data management system. A request associated with accessing a metadata object included in the persistent catalog is received. In response to receiving the request, access to the requested metadata object is provided.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to systems and methods for detecting and/or treating lower urinary tract conditions. One embodiment of the invention is directed to a medical device. The medical device includes an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end and an end effector assembly that extends distally from the distal end of the elongate member. The end effector assembly includes a plurality of end effector units. Each end effector unit has a sensing element for detecting a location of abnormal organ function and a treatment element for treating the location of abnormal organ function.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an implant is configured to be placed within a body of a patient. The implant includes a support member. The support member is configured to be placed adjacent a vaginal apex of a patient. The support member has a length sufficient to extend the length of the vaginal apex but not of a length sufficient to extend from the vaginal apex to a location between a vagina of the patient and a rectum of the patient. The implant also includes first and second arm members coupled to the support member. The arm members are configured to be coupled to bodily tissue of the patient to help secure the implant within the body of the patient.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, composite implants for soft tissue repair are provided which comprise (a) a substantially two-dimensional piece of biologic matrix material and (b) one or more non-absorbable synthetic polymeric filaments.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an implant is configured to be placed within a body of a patient. The implant includes a support member. The support member is configured to be placed adjacent a vaginal apex of a patient. The support member has a length sufficient to extend the length of the vaginal apex but not of a length sufficient to extend from the vaginal apex to a location between a vagina of the patient and a rectum of the patient. The implant also includes first and second arm members coupled to the support member. The arm members are configured to be coupled to bodily tissue of the patient to help secure the implant within the body of the patient.

Abstract: The present invention is directed at a removable stent for providing reinforcement to a selected region of a selected body lumen including a resilient cylindrical layer, including at least one bioresorbable extrusion exterior from the resilient cylindrical layer for resisting migration of the removable stent when the removable stent is positioned in the selected region of the selected body lumen. The present invention also includes a temporary implantable endoprosthesis which includes a tubular, radially compressible and axially flexible structure, including at least one bioresorbable extrusion exterior from the resilient cylindrical layer for resisting migration of the removable stent when the removable stent is positioned in the selected region of the selected body lumen.

Abstract: The present invention is directed at a removable stent for providing reinforcement to a selected region of a selected body lumen including a resilient cylindrical layer, including at least one bioresorbable extrusion exterior from the resilient cylindrical layer for resisting migration of the removable stent when the removable stent is positioned in the selected region of the selected body lumen. The present invention also includes a temporary implantable endoprosthesis which includes a tubular, radially compressible and axially flexible structure, including at least one bioresorbable extrusion exterior from the resilient cylindrical layer for resisting migration of the removable stent when the removable stent is positioned in the selected region of the selected body lumen.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure may include a method of treatment. The method of treatment may include advancing a medical device to a wall of an organ having a plurality of layers of tissue. The medical device may include an elongate tube having a proximal end and a distal end, a lumen extending therebetween, and an injector disposed within the lumen. The injector may be configured to deliver a substance to a location between first and second layers of tissue of the plurality of layers of tissue within the organ wall. In addition, the method may further include delivering the substance to the location, wherein, when delivered, the substance is configured to spatially separate a portion of the first and second layers of the tissue.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a base portion, a first side portion, and a second side portion. The base portion, the first side portion, and the second side portion collectively define a cavity. The cavity is configured to receive a filament. The cavity is also configured to receive at least a portion of a delivery tool such that a coupling portion of the delivery tool is aligned with the filament. In some embodiments, the cavity includes a first end portion and a second end portion. The cavity is configured to receive the filament such that it extends from the first end portion of the cavity to the second end portion of the cavity. The cavity is configured to receive the at least a portion of a delivery tool such that the coupling portion of the delivery tool is disposed between the first end portion of the cavity and the second end portion of the cavity.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an implant is configured to be placed within a body of a patient. The implant includes a support member. The support member is configured to be placed adjacent a vaginal apex of a patient. The support member has a length sufficient to extend the length of the vaginal apex but not of a length sufficient to extend from the vaginal apex to a location between a vagina of the patient and a rectum of the patient. The implant also includes first and second arm members coupled to the support member. The arm members are configured to be coupled to bodily tissue of the patient to help secure the implant within the body of the patient.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, composite implants for soft tissue repair a provided which comprise (a) a substantially two-dimensional piece of biologic matrix material and (b) one or more non-absorbable synthetic polymeric filaments.

Abstract: An implantable vascular access device includes a housing having an inlet, an outlet, an interior chamber defined therein and a valve positioned between the inlet and the interior chamber. The valve is subcutaneously manipulated between an open position, in which fluid can flow between the inlet and the interior chamber, and a closed position in which the valve occludes the inlet. The device may include any combination of multiple inlets, outlets and/or interior chambers. In the preferred embodiment, the housing includes two separate interior chambers suitable for the inflow and outflow of a typical hemodialysis procedure. A method for accessing a vascular structure is provided which includes the steps of subcutaneously implanting the device connecting one end of a cannula to the outlet of the device and another end of the cannula to a selected vascular structure. The valve of the device is manipulated to permit fluid communication between the inlet of the device and the selected vascular structure.

Abstract: A low profile, implantable prosthesis includes (a) a tubular graft including opposed open ends and having yarns in a textile pattern to define a textile wall having a luminal surface and an exterior surface; and (b) a tubular, radially extensible member including a portion arranged in a closed zig-zag pattern, the pattern having a series of angled bends at proximal and distal ends thereof, and longitudinally extending members having opposed proximal and distal ends, the distal ends being disposed from the angled bends of the proximal end; the longitudinally extending members having a plurality of detents for securing the yarns within the textile pattern at one of the opposed open ends, wherein the yarns of the textile patterns are securably disposed to the detents. The detents may be holes, inwardly extending notches, outwardly extending protuberances, or combinations thereof in the longitudinally extending members.

Abstract: The present invention is directed at a removable stent for providing reinforcement to a selected region of a selected body lumen including a resilient cylindrical layer, including at least one bioresorbable extrusion exterior from the resilient cylindrical layer for resisting migration of the removable stent when the removable stent is positioned in the selected region of the selected body lumen. The present invention also includes a temporary implantable endoprosthesis which includes a tubular, radially compressible and axially flexible structure, including at least one bioresorbable extrusion exterior from the resilient cylindrical layer for resisting migration of the removable stent when the removable stent is positioned in the selected region of the selected body lumen.

Abstract: An implantable vascular access device includes a housing having an inlet, an outlet, an interior chamber defined therein and a valve positioned between the inlet and the interior chamber. The valve is subcutaneously manipulated between an open position, in which fluid can flow between the inlet and the interior chamber, and a closed position in which the valve occludes the inlet. The device may include any combination of multiple inlets, outlets and/or interior chambers. In the preferred embodiment, the housing includes two separate interior chambers suitable for the inflow and outflow of a typical hemodialysis procedure. A method for accessing a vascular structure is provided which includes the steps of subcutaneously implanting the device connecting one end of a cannula to the outlet of the device and another end of the cannula to a selected vascular structure. The valve of the device is manipulated to permit fluid communication between the inlet of the device and the selected vascular structure.

Abstract: An implantable vascular access device includes a housing having an inlet, an outlet, an interior chamber defined therein and a valve positioned between the inlet and the interior chamber. The valve is subcutaneously manipulated between an open position, in which fluid can flow between the inlet and the interior chamber, and a closed position in which the valve occludes the inlet. The device may include any combination of multiple inlets, outlets and/or interior chambers. In the preferred embodiment, the housing includes two separate interior chambers suitable for the inflow and outflow of a typical hemodialysis procedure. A method for accessing a vascular structure is provided which includes the steps of subcutaneously implanting the device connecting one end of a cannula to the outlet of the device and another end of the cannula to a selected vascular structure. The valve of the device is manipulated to permit fluid communication between the inlet of the device and the selected vascular structure.