Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for injecting a viscous material into periurethral tissues as a treatment for urinary incontinence. The apparatus comprises a non-coring needle mounted to the forward end of a catheter. A hub with a luer adapter is fitted to the rearward end of the catheter. To provide the physician with a readily visible indicator of the orientation of the needle orifice, the catheter has a stripe running longitudinally on the catheter in predetermined angular relationship with the needle orifice. Further, the needle hub also has indicia located thereon in predetermined angular relationship with the needle orifice. Thus the physician can ascertain the orientation of the needle orifice through the cystoscope by observing the location of the stripe, or he can determine the orientation of the needle orifice externally by observing the indicia on the needle hub.

Abstract: An inflatable prosthesis is disclosed which comprises a structural member having a bore dimensioned to receive a needle formed in its back end. An elastomeric balloon has a back end in sealing engagement with the structural member and has a front end extending beyond the front end of the structural member such that a portion of the structural member is contained within the balloon. A port is defined in the structural member for placing the bore in fluid communication with a port location exterior of the structural member which is contained within the balloon, whereby fluid infused into the bore passes through the port and into a space between the balloon and the exterior surface of the structural member to inflate the balloon. An elastomeric member has one portion attached to the structural member and another portion attached to the front end of the balloon so as to partially constrain axial expansion of the prosthesis as the balloon is inflated.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for guiding the needle of a tissue sampling device to a target location within the body of a patient. The device permits accurate and easy retrieval of acceptable tissue specimens from locations within the body of a patient which require angling of the needle to reach the target tissue. The apparatus further permits accurate and easy retrieval of tissue specimens from even small pathological changes, and the apparatus can be introduced into the tomograph with the patient to verify correct location of the biopsy needle with respect to the target tissue. The device not only directs the biopsy needle along the desired path but also controls the depth of penetration of the needle to prevent accidental overpenetration of the needle. The guidance device is not limited to the plane normal to the longitudinal axis of the patient but is capable of guiding the needle in a plane which is oblique to the longitudinal axis.