Abstract: A guide wire for guiding a medical device within a body lumen is described. The guide wire includes a proximal section, a distal section, and a mid section. The proximal section includes a proximal wire core tapered with contraction towards a proximal end of the proximal wire core. The distal section includes a distal wire core tapered with contraction towards a distal end of the distal wire core. The mid section includes a joint for joining the proximal wire core and the distal wire core. The guide wire also includes a safety wire extending along the mid section, and along at least parts of the proximal and distal sections. Moreover, the guide wire includes an outer tubing enveloping the overlapping joint and at least parts of the proximal and distal sections.

Abstract: A medical device is provided. The medical device includes a sheath with an extended distal end portion, a proximal end portion, and a lumen defined therethrough. A handle is fixedly connected to the proximal end portion of the sheath, the handle includes an operator that is translatable between a first position and a second position. A flow path is defined within the handle in fluid communication with the proximal end portion of the sheath, wherein the operator is configured to substantially block the flow path in a second position and allow flow therethrough in a first position. The flow path includes a portion that is configured to communicate with a remote source of suction. The handle additionally includes a second inlet portion configured to receive a tool therethrough and allow the tool to extend through the lumen of the sheath.

Abstract: A positioner is provided that is able to precisely position a stent, such as a ureteral stent, by using an anatomical landmark, such as a ureteral orifice. The positioner is placed over a wire guide and advanced until the proximal portion of the stent abuts a stent-stop. The positioner and stent are together pushed until the positioner reaches the ureteral orifice. The stent can be deployed and the positioner can be removed leaving the stent correctly positioned within the kidney and bladder.

Abstract: A rigid extractor is revealed, a rigid device for use in percutaneous procedures to remove kidney stones directly from the kidneys. The rigid extractor uses a handle fixed to an outer rigid cannula, and an inner cannula to control an extraction device that may be removable from the inner cannula. The extractor is desirably used with a fluoroscope, in which the surgeon maneuvers the extractor with the aid of a view of the operating field provided by the fluoroscope. The surgeon then maneuvers the extractor to grasp the kidney stones and remove from the patient. The extractor may also be used with a nephroscope. The device may be used with a removable extraction device such as a basket, a grasper a pair of jaws, or a pair of scissors.

Abstract: An incubation condition monitoring device has at least one reader unit (10) to measure selected characteristics with an incubator (2). The reader unit transmits the information to a receiver/transmitter (12) within the incubator to receive the measurements and to transmit the measurements of the selected characteristics to a data logger (14) outside the incubator. A monitor and display system (16) monitors and displays the measurements of the selected characteristics. The selected characteristics within the incubator can be temperature and pH.

Abstract: An ovum collection device (20) includes a handle (4) and a collection needle (3) extending from the handle. The collection needle has a sharpened tip (44) for insertion into a follicle of an ovary. A collection duct (5) in fluid communication with the collection needle extends from the handle to a collection bottle (6). A heating arrangement (14) is used to maintain the collection needle at a selected temperature to prevent damage to an oocyte. The heating arrangement may be associated with a needle guide (72) on an ultrasonic probe such as a transvaginal ultrasonic probe (70).

Abstract: A removable and replaceable handle for a medical device includes a main body with a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis between the distal and proximal ends and a slider disposed within the main body that is translatable along the longitudinal axis between the distal and proximal ends. A first gripper is disposed within the slider and a second gripper is disposed within the main body, which are capable of retaining a control portion of the medical device when the slider is in the first position with a working portion of the medical device in a biased position, and allows the medical device to be removed from or inserted into the handle when the slider is in the second position.

Abstract: A graft and method of using a graft are described that should decrease the incidence of abnormal placentation and uterine rupture that result from cesarean section and restore the anatomic integrity of the uterus at a hysterotomy surgical site, while not disturbing the involution of the postpartum uterus.

Abstract: A medical device having a bioactive in a salt and a free-base form contained within the device and/or coated onto a surface of the device. The salt and the free-base form have different solubilities in an aqueous medium. The elution of bioactive from the device in an aqueous medium is tailored by fixing the ratio of forms. Methods of preparing such a device are also provided.

Abstract: A prosthetic testicle is provided that is able to mimic the movement and feel of a natural testicle while at the same time being able to remodel itself into native tissue. Additionally, the prosthetic testicle is able to provide long-term delivery of drugs into the patient.

Abstract: A single device is provided for performing the diagnostic procedures of sonohysterography and endometrial biopsy. The device includes a cervical seal to occlude the cervix and a substance delivery and removal device to deliver and remove a fluid from the uterus. The substance delivery and removal device may also be used to create a vacuum so that suction occurs near side-ports that are used to collect endometrial tissue samples from multiple locations as the device is rotated or moved laterally within the patient. Additionally, the sample may be taken using a cellular collection device.

Abstract: A single device is provided for performing hysterography and intrauterine venography having a marker that aids in positioning the device within the patient, having a bulb-tip to seal the cervix, having a bulb-tip opening to allow an image enhancing medium to be discharged from a needle and injected into the uterus to perform the hysterography, having a needle to discharge and inject an image enhancing medium into the fundal myometrium to perform the intrauterine venography, and having a needle securing mechanism to secure the needle to prevent patient injury during transcervical introduction of the device.

Abstract: A kit and method for supporting a pelvic floor of a person with stress urinary incontinence or other symptoms. The method involves using barbed sutures as part of a sling for supporting the pelvic floor or urethra of a person experiencing stress urinary incontinence or other symptoms. A surgeon implants the sling along with the barbed sutures, using one of several known methods. The barbed sutures may be interwoven with the sling and the supports for the sling, so that once the sling and its supports are placed into the patient, barbs of the sutures will resist movement. The sutures may also be woven into the supports to resist movement.

Abstract: A retrieval device is provided for retrieving stones, calculi, and other objects from a body. The device allows for a retrieval basket to be articulated and extended simultaneously. The device also allows for the basket to be articulated and retracted simultaneously.

Abstract: A bung for an aspiration assembly sample collection tube, the bung (1) has a top surface (3), a tapered side surface (7) for fitting into the sample tube and a lower surface (5). First and second apertures (9, 11) extend through the bung from the top surface to the bottom surface, the first aperture (9) being for an inlet tubing and the second aperture (11) being for an aspiration tubing, the first aperture has a recess (13) in the lower surface of the bung. This recess is adapted to sealingly receive a supply nozzle of a flushing fluid supply device such as a syringe so that in use flushing fluid may be directed through the inlet tubing.

Abstract: A stent is made by coiling wire into a tight coil and polishing the stent so that it is highly atraumatic to patients and is also resistant to encrustation by microbes. Such stents may be used for urinary bladder drainage or ureteral drainage, as in the bilairy tract, the gastrointestinal tract, and in vascular procedures as well. A method is provided to dilate the body passages in order to properly place the access sheaths and stents.

Abstract: A surgical cutter with a flat blade and a cutting wedge allows a surgeon to safely trim a foreign object inside a body, such as a urethral sling inside a patient, so that a minimum of sling remains in place after cutting. The shortened sling minimizes tension applied to the urethra and to any nearby bladder tissues. The cutter may also be used to trim other prostheses or devices implanted within a patient. The cutter is configured so that the cutting surface of the blade does not contact tissue of the patient.

Abstract: A retention device for use in a human or mammalian body includes superelastic wires that expand when they are released from a confined state. The retention device may have the outer form of a Foley catheter. One or more superelastic wires within the balloon of a Foley catheter help to insure retention within the body, such as within a urinary bladder.

Abstract: A method for aspirating an oocyte from a human female is provided. The method includes the step of providing at least one ovarian cortical piece, implanting the ovarian cortical piece in the human female at a heterotopic location, and triggering oocyte maturity in the at least one ovarian cortical piece. The method also includes the steps of providing an aspiration needle and retrieving at least one oocyte from the at least one ovarian cortical piece using the aspiration needle.

Abstract: A radiopaque component is included in manipulation and retrieval devices useful for kidney and bile stones. These devices may include a retriever or manipulator, to remove a stone or other object from a body. Metallic three component alloys of Ni—Ti and at least a third metal are useful for their radiopacity. Manipulators, graspers, nets, jaws, and other retrieval devices or end-effectors may be made with such alloys.