Abstract: Described herein are compositions and methods for the prediction of bladder cancer risk of invasiveness. The compositions are microRNA molecules associated with the prognosis of bladder cancer, as well as various nucleic acid molecules relating thereto or derived therefrom.

Abstract: Described herein are compositions and methods for the prediction of bladder cancer risk of invasiveness. The compositions are microRNA molecules associated with the prognosis of bladder cancer, as well as various nucleic acid molecules relating thereto or derived therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and kits useful for diagnosis and/or prognosis of urothelial cancer in a subject. The present invention further relates to methods of assessing severity of cancer and methods of determining efficacy of a treatment for cancer. The methods and kits of the invention comprise determining the levels of semaphorin 3A in a biological sample of a subject.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and kits useful for diagnosis and/or prognosis of urothelial cancer in a subject. The present invention further relates to methods of assessing severity of cancer and methods of determining efficacy of a treatment for cancer. The methods and kits of the invention comprise determining the levels of semaphorin 3A in a biological sample of a subject.

Abstract: Described herein are compositions and methods for the prediction of bladder cancer risk of invasiveness. The compositions are microRNA molecules associated with the prognosis of bladder cancer, as well as various nucleic acid molecules relating thereto or derived therefrom.

Abstract: Described herein are compositions and methods for the prediction of bladder cancer risk of invasiveness. The compositions are microRNA molecules associated with the prognosis of bladder cancer, as well as various nucleic acid molecules relating thereto or derived therefrom.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided including identifying a subject as suffering from a disorder of an organ of the subject. In response to the identifying, a shaft is inserted into the organ, not via a natural lumen of the subject. Using a laser beam emitted from a distal portion of the shaft, a portion of the organ is ablated. A vicinity of the portion of the organ is cooled by introducing a fluid to the vicinity, and, subsequently aspirating the fluid therefrom, the introduction and aspiration of the fluid being performed via the shaft, while the shaft is inside the organ. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Devices and methods for delivering a substance to tissue or organs, particularly, the bladder, by a plurality of microneedles The devices may include a delivery tube, a a substance chamber to fill with the substance to be delivered, a plurality of needles, a plunger coupled to a handle movable relative to the tube to deliver the substance to the tissue through the needles, and a protective plate having at least one orifice therein, such that when the device is in a first, resting, position the needle tips are on a first side of the protective plate, and when the device is in a second, operational, position, the needles are on a second side of the protective plate.

Abstract: Various anastomotic connectors (400) for attaching two blood vessels are described, including connectors, which comprise a plurality of clip like elements. In some embodiments, each clip like element comprises a flat medallion section (404) and a tearable hook section (402).

Abstract: A cutter (300) adapted for making an aperture in a blood vessel (810) suitable for receiving an anastomotic connector, the cutter comprising a handle a curved element extending from the handle, a sharp tip (306) at the end of the element, the tip (306) adapted for making at least one entry cut in a blood vessel (810) and at least one exit cut in the same blood vessel a distance from the entry cut while a portion of the curved element is substantially within the vessel lumen and a sharp edge (376) along a portion of the convex aspect of the portion, the edge adapted to cut the vessel as the handle is pulled radially away from the lumen.

Abstract: A leg compacting system for compacting inwards a group of legs (228) of an anastomotic connector towards a central location thereof, comprising, a coupler for coupling to a delivery system on which said connector is mounted; and a plurality of leg confiners (820), said leg confiners (820) configured to selectively move in an inwards direction and said confiners configured to have a resting compacted configuration in which a space of between 7 and 1 mm in width is maintained between the innermost leg contacting sections of said confiners such that a graft vessel suitable for mounting on said connector can be passed between said confiners (820).

Abstract: An anastomosis and punch delivery system, comprising: a punch section containing a punch mechanism; a connector section containing a connector; and a switching mechanism which pulls said punch mechanism back and replaces it with said connector mechanism.

Abstract: An anastomotic connector (200) for attaching two blood vessels comprising a plurality of eye segments (1604), each defining a channel and each including a part of an interlock mechanism (1600) on said channel; a plurality of hook segments (1602), each defining a tissue holding area, each adapted to pass through said channel and including a second part of said interlock mechanism (1600), wherein, said interlock mechanism (1600) engages for a hook and an eye segment when said hook segment (1602) is retracted back into said eye segment (1604) enough to attach two layers of vascular tissue between said eye segment (1604) and said hook segment (1602).

Abstract: An anastomosis delivery system for delivering a connector having at least one backwards spike having a bent tip, comprising: a hollow guide sheath; and a hollow, axially slotted section, fitting within said sheath, said section having a flared configuration and an unflared configuration and wherein said axially slotted section is adapted to contain at least a part of said connector and to limit axial motion of said connector when said section is in its unflared configuration.

Abstract: The present invention provides radially-expandable stents that, in various embodiments, provide controllable expansive force profiles. The expansive force profiles can be controlled by varying the unrestrained expanded diameter of the stents, by varying the longitudinal length of the circumferential support sections in the stents, and/or by varying the circumferential width of the struts in the support sections. Also disclosed are methods of deploying the stents.

Abstract: The present invention provides radially-expandable stents that, in various embodiments, may reduce the bending stresses/strains associated with the compressed state of self-expanding stents and/or may prevent longitudinal expansion/contraction of radially expandable stents between the compressed and expanded states. In addition, stents according to the present invention preferably exhibit increased longitudinal flexibility in both the compressed and expanded states. The present invention also includes delivery systems in which threading of the guidewire through the delivery system may be simplified. In addition, the delivery systems according to the present invention may also incorporate a balloon to assist in radially expanding the stent and/or seating of the stent in the lumen during deployment without removing the stent delivery catheter.

Abstract: A graft delivery system (302), having a tubular element for delivering a graft (510) through a bore (320) thereof and having a delivery end (410) and the end being prone to distortion and at least one collar (300) removably encircling the delivery end, which collar prevents the distortion.

Abstract: The present invention provides radially-expandable stents that, in various embodiments, may reduce the bending stresses/strains associated with the compressed state of self-expanding stents and/or may prevent longitudinal expansion/contraction of radially expandable stents between the compressed and expanded states. In addition, stents according to the present invention preferably exhibit increased longitudinal flexibility in both the compressed and expanded states. The present invention also includes delivery systems in which threading of the guidewire through the delivery system may be simplified. In addition, the delivery systems according to the present invention may also incorporate a balloon to assist in radially expanding the stent and/or seating of the stent in the lumen during deployment without removing the stent delivery catheter.

Abstract: The present invention provides radially-expandable stents that, in various embodiments, may reduce the bending stresses/strains associated with the compressed state of self-expanding stents and/or may prevent longitudinal expansion/contraction of radially expandable stents between the compressed and expanded states. In addition, stents according to the present invention preferably exhibit increased longitudinal flexibility in both the compressed and expanded states. The present invention also includes delivery systems in which threading of the guidewire through the delivery system may be simplified. In addition, the delivery systems according to the present invention may also incorporate a balloon to assist in radially expanding the stent and/or seating of the stent in the lumen during deployment without removing the stent delivery catheter.

Abstract: A device for loading a medical stent on a balloon catheter. A tube, preferable pre-installed with a stent, is secured to one component having a pulling knob. The tube with stent extends into the bore of a second component, also having a pulling knob. The bore of the second component is conical and reduces down in the direction of the first component. For intended use, the preselected balloon catheter is inserted within the confines of the lumen of the tube (which places it within the center of the stent). Then, the two knobs are pulled apart. The force of the pull causes the tube, with the stent around the catheter within it, to pass through the decreasing bore, thereby loading and compressing the stent onto the balloon catheter. The tube serves as the vehicle to carry the balloon catheter and stent through the bore for loading the stent onto the balloon catheter. The tube can be Teflon coated to facilitate the pulling and stent loading or, alternatively, the tube can be elastic and/or plastic.