Abstract: Devices and methods to remove trabecular meshwork to treat glaucoma and other conditions which may not utilize cutting elements when stripping the trabecular meshwork. The trabeculorhexis parts tissue by applying non-cutting shear and tension to the tissue to disinsert the tissue from its attachments. Reducing or eliminating the need for sharp cutting implements in the eye reduces the likelihood of incisional bleeding, iris and scleral tissue maceration and further inadvertent tissue damage of the gonio structure of the eye. In another aspect, a cutting element may be used to form a circumferential slit in a wall of Schlemm's canal in conjunction with removal of trabecular meshwork or independently.

Abstract: An aid for dispensing eye drops to improve adherence. The aid, which may be integrated into an eye drop bottle (10) or be separately attached, aligns the eye drop container to better dispense eye drops, while resting the engagement surface (55) of an alignment structure (50) upon the bridge of a user's nose (80), supporting the eye drop container and not intruding upon the temporal half of the field of view of the user's eye.

Abstract: An ocular implant including an intraocular pressure sensor and having an inlet portion and a Schlemm's canal portion distal to the inlet portion, the inlet portion being disposed at a proximal end of the implant and sized and configured to be placed within an anterior chamber of a human eye, the Schlemm's canal portion being arranged and configured to be disposed within Schlemm's canal of the eye when the inlet portion is disposed in the anterior chamber.

Abstract: Embodiments of negative pressure wound therapy systems and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a driving circuit that supplies a driving signal to a negative pressure source to cause the negative pressure source to provide negative pressure via a fluid flow path to a wound dressing. The apparatus furthers include a controller that adjusts a frequency of the driving signal supplied by the driving circuit according to a comparison of a previous magnitude and a subsequent magnitude of the driving signal while the negative pressure source provides negative pressure. The transfer of power to the negative pressure source can thereby be tuned to maximize an amount of power transferred to the negative pressure source.

Abstract: An introducer used to insert a urinary incontinence device into a vagina. The introducer includes a housing including a vaginal insertion tube at a proximal end of the housing and a storage section at a distal end of the housing. The storage section is shaped and dimensioned for storage of the urinary incontinence device prior to insertion and the vaginal insertion tube is shaped and dimensioned for the passage of the urinary incontinence device therethrough. The dimensions of the storage section are such that the urinary incontinence device contained therein is in its deployed non-compressed state allowing the urinary incontinence device to be stored in its non-compressed state prior to use. The introducer also includes a plunger which travels within the housing.

Abstract: A blood purification apparatus in which the error in the amount of discharge from a blood pump that is caused by the change in the suction pressure of the blood pump is reduced. A blood purification apparatus includes a blood circuit through which blood of a patient is extracorporeally circulated; a dialyzer connected to proximal ends of an arterial blood circuit and a venous blood circuit and that purifies the blood extracorporeally circulating through the blood circuit; a squeezable tube connected to the arterial blood circuit; a blood pump allowing liquid in the squeezable tube to flow by squeezing the squeezable tube in a lengthwise direction while compressing the squeezable tube in a radial direction; and a pressure-detecting device attached to a predetermined position of the arterial blood circuit that is nearer to a distal end than a position where the blood pump is provided, the pressure-detecting device being capable of detecting a suction pressure of the blood pump.

Abstract: A folded absorbent article with an absorbent core having at least two core layers located between a topsheet and a backsheet is provided. The width of a transition between front and intermediate portions of the core is narrower than a width of the rest of the core. A first end portion of the article is folded about a fold line that coincides with or is adjacent the narrow portion of the core. A second end portion of the article is folded about a second and rear transversal fold line. The first end portion may be folded onto a central area and the second end portion may then be folded onto the first end portion, or the second end portion may be folded onto the central area and the first end portion may then be folded onto the second end portion.

Abstract: An assembly for an ostomy device has a ring of adhesive disposed in a package. The package has a first and a second package portion. The package portions are interconnected in such a way that the package is in a closed state when the first and second package portions are in a first mutual position, and in an open state when the first and second package portions are in a second mutual position. The assembly has a release liner provided to cover a front surface of the ring of adhesive.

Abstract: An applicator for a tampon is provided. The applicator has an inner tube and an outer tube. The inner tube is slideable within the outer tube. The applicator has a forward end and a rear end, and the inner tube has at least one inwardly protruding flange.

Abstract: An ostomy pouch includes a collection pouch having a first side wall and a second side wall connected to one another along a periphery, the collection pouch having a collection cavity defined between the first and second side walls, an outlet connected to and extending from the collection pouch, the outlet defining an internal passageway connected to the collection cavity, the outlet having a coupling element, and a drainage adapter configured to engage the coupling element so as to be coupled to the outlet. The outlet is foldable to a closed condition to close the collection pouch and unfoldable to an open condition to drain the collection pouch.

Abstract: A cerebral spinal fluid shunt plug includes a shunt plug housing having a recess formed therein and a shunt valve shaped and dimensioned for positioning within the recess of the shunt plug housing.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for treating a tissue site with reduced pressure are described. The system includes a manifold configured to be placed adjacent the tissue site, and a sealing member configured to be placed over the tissue site and the manifold. The system also includes a reduced-pressure source fluidly coupled to the manifold through the sealing member. The system further includes a pouch having an upstream layer having a first thickness, a downstream layer having a second thickness, and an absorbent member enclosed between the upstream layer and the downstream layer. The second thickness is greater than the first thickness. The upstream layer may have a hydrophilic side adjacent the absorbent member, and the downstream layer may have a hydrophobic side adjacent the absorbent member.

Abstract: A topical applicator of the propel/repel type includes a reservoir, an attachable applicator cap, and a metered dosing system. The reservoir is suitable for mixing a topical formulation of multiple constituents using an electronic mortar and pestle and is closed using the applicator cap. Alternatively, the reservoir may be prefilled with a ready-to-use cream and medicament formulation, then sealed with a removable seal. The topical applicator can include a fast purge feature that overrides the metered dosing system to facilitate removal of air from the reservoir. The topical applicator can also include a one-way ratcheting feature to prevent reverse movement (repel) of the metered dosing system. Metered doses can be dispensed through holes in the applicator cap by rotating a knob, which has detent positions that correspond to discrete doses, and which provides audible and tactile feedback.

Abstract: An applicator for a tampon comprising an inner tube slideable within an outer tube is provided. A plurality of protrusions is provided on the outer surface of the inner tube at its forward end and a plurality of spikes is provided on the inner surface of the outer tube at its forward end. The applicator has one or more of these features: i) the same or different number of protrusions and spikes; ii) one or more of the protrusions are arranged in an asymmetric manner around the outer surface of the inner tube such that the distance between two adjacent protrusions is not the same for all adjacent pairs of protrusions; iii) one or more of the spikes are arranged in an asymmetric manner around the inner surface of the outer tube such that the distance between two adjacent spikes is not the same for all adjacent pairs of spikes.

Abstract: A disposable pant-type absorbent article includes a chassis and an absorbent body. The chassis has a front portion and a back portion and each of the front and back portions has a waist edge, a pair of leg edges and a pair of side edges. The front and back portions are joined to each other at opposite side edges to at least partly define a waist-opening and a pair of leg-openings. The absorbent body is located mainly in a crotch portion of the article. An elastic leg feature is fastened to the chassis at least partly along leg edges. The elastic leg feature extends from the associated side edge towards a centre line in the longitudinal direction of the article. The disclosure also relates to a corresponding method of manufacturing a pant-type absorbent article, as well as an array of gender-specific, disposable, absorbent articles.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a wound dressing comprising a fibre fleece-based body, and a packaging forming the outer visible sides of the wound dressing, which packaging contains a layer made from a flat textile on the side of the wound dressing facing the wound, which has an outer-side, partially and structurally applied coating, and wherein the packaging has a fibre fleece layer on the side of the wound dressing facing away from the wound, which forms the outer visible side of the wound dressing; and, a liquid-impermeable plastic film layer on the side of the fibre fleece layer facing the wound, and wherein the fibre fleece layer, the plastic film layer, the body and the textile layer are not connected to one another, but rather lie with the flat sides thereof loosely and movably against one another and are only connected along the peripheral edges by a joint connection.

Abstract: Devices can be implanted in an eye to treat a dry eye condition. The devices include a body defining a lumen and having first and second ends and external and lumenal surfaces. The body has a length sufficient to provide fluid communication between the anterior chamber and tear film of the eye through the lumen when the device is implanted in the sclera. In some embodiments, the device is filterless. In some embodiments, a filter is included. The dry eye treatment devices provided herein prevent bacterial ingress, provide outflow resistance to retain a normal intraocular pressure, and provide moisture (e.g., aqueous humor) to an otherwise dry eye. Methods of treating a dry eye condition wherein the device is implanted in the sclera of an afflicted eye are also described.

Abstract: A portable urinal includes: a moisture solidification layer containing a super absorbent polymer; and a plate-shaped support member supporting the moisture solidification layer and having a hollow portion; and a shape retaining wire retaining the plate-shaped support member in the form of an alphabet “C”, wherein the shape retaining wire has a single closed curve in the form of covering the plate-shaped support member and is provided along the edge of the plate-shaped support member.

Abstract: Reusable cups for collecting catamenia having a base, outer and inner walls, apertures, ribs, and ridges. In some examples, the reusable cups include a trimmable stem. In some further examples, the reusable cups include a circumferential band as a double seal for leak protection and to aid the reusable cups in fully expanding upon insertion and while in situ. In further examples, the reusable cups include indentations and indicia at the base of the reusable cups to work in tandem with the ribs and the apertures such that when the reusable cup is pinched at the base, the suction seal at the aperture and the lip is broken.

Abstract: A waterproof menstrual pad having an outer portion to contact a woman's underwear and an inner portion to contact a groin area of the woman, the waterproof menstrual pad including an absorbent portion disposed at a center portion of an inner surface of the inner portion to absorb blood, and an outer-edge waterproof lining disposed along an outer edge of the inner surface of the inner portion to prevent water from entering the inner surface.