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: 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 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 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.

Abstract: An implantable medical device such as a catheter with a controlled-release outer layer including a pharmacologically active ingredient for helping to relieve pain associated with the implantation of the device. The device includes a base material with an outer bioactive material layer including, for example, an analgesic or a local anesthetic.

Abstract: An implantable medical device such as a catheter includes an outer controlled-release layer with a pharmacologically active ingredient for helping to prevent the occurrence or recurrence of cancer, or an immunosuppressive drug. The outer layer includes a bioactive material such as paclitaxel or other drug known to help reduce the incidence of formation of tumors or other cancerous items within the body of a patient.

Abstract: An implantable medical device 10 such as a catheter with a controlled-release pharmacologically active ingredient for minimizing the risk of infection or other physiological afflictions associated with the implantation thereof. The device includes a base material and a controlled-release outer layer containing a bioactive material, for example, paclitaxel.

Abstract: A surgical cutting instrument is disclosed for percutaneously debulking tissue through an access sheath commonly used in minimally invasive laparoscopic or endoscopic surgical procedures. The cutting instrument includes a inner rotary member tube having a cutting edge at the distal end thereof for cutting and slicing tissue. The distal end of the cutting member tube extends from the distal end of a stationary sheath which prevents tissue from wrapping around the inner cutting member tube. The inner cutting member tube includes a hollow passageway for suctioning and aspirating tissue and fluid through the tube and into a collection chamber or out through a vacuum or suction line attached thereto. The instrument further includes an outer safety shield having a rounded distal end for preventing the puncture of a surgical tissue bag or from unintentionally cutting tissue by the attending physician.

Abstract: A device and method for intravaginal, barrier-type prevention of conception and infection by sexually-transmitted diseases based upon a barrier-type device including a flexible cervical dome having a continuous fornical rim defining an opening into the dome and a continuous, annular, vaginal brim which circumscribes and is attached to the cervical dome at the fornical rim. The vaginal brim is reverse-folded from the fornical rim, and has a dimension which continuously increases with circumferential symmetry from an anterior vaginal extension of the brim to a posterior vaginal extension of the brim which is diametrically opposite the anterior vaginal extension. The fornical rim is characterized in having a lip which extends inwardly from the opening toward the centerline of the dome. The brim has a curvature in a direction away from the dome.