Abstract: An intragastric anchor implant device is provided with a substantially rigid member having proximal and distal ends and atraumatic tips or features disposed near the proximal and distal ends. The atraumatic features prevent damage to the tissues of the stomach and the gastrointestinal track and may help to anchor the device in the stomach, while the substantially rigid member resists bending so as to engage a tissue of the stomach or the gastrointestinal tract to prevent passage through the stomach. The anchor implant device is coupled with a therapeutic device, typically a sleeve, such as an intestinal bypass sleeve. Ideally, the device includes a sliding seal to direct a flow of food particles from the stomach through the sleeve, so as to be useful in treating a disorder, including obesity and diabetes. Methods of deploying the anchor implant devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and devices regulate the activation of ghrelin hormones within a stomach in order to treat weight disorders, to promote learning and memory functions, to treat stress-induced depression, and to control sleep duration. In one embodiment, a method for regulating activation of ghrelin hormones within a stomach comprises a means for isolating non-activated ghrelin hormones from food content and dietary lipids within the stomach. These means for isolating may take any number of forms and may comprise one or more of a surgical procedure, an implanted device, or an ingestible substance.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present disclosure is directed to a high volume suction tip, including a tubular body with peripheral side wall, a functional orifice, and a vacuum source end. An aperture in a wall of the tubular body forms a vacuum release orifice, wherein the aperture is between the functional orifice and the vacuum source end. A plurality of tubes are placed within a lumen of the tubular body, wherein the tubes have a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tubular body and provide at least one channel for transmitting a material from the functional orifice to the vacuum source end. A first tube occludes the vacuum release orifice at a first pressure, and, at a second pressure lower than the first pressure, a compressible side wall of a second tube collapses inwardly to disengage the first tube from the vacuum release orifice.

Abstract: A fluid management system for transferring fluid, the system including a connector component comprising a first end and an opposite second end, a first syringe with a distal end that is removably attachable to the first end of the connector component, and a second syringe with a distal end that is removably attachable to the second end of the connector component.

Abstract: A sprayer which inhibits or prevents clogging from occurring in a nozzle when a liquid is ejected from the nozzle includes a nozzle having a first internal tube through which a first liquid passes, and a second internal tube through which a second liquid passes. An external tube is provided in which the first internal tube and the second internal tube are positioned so that the gas passes therebetween. In the sprayer, each distal end part of the first internal tube and the second internal tube includes a gas permeable film impermeable to each liquid, and permeable to the gas.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, devices and methods for treating an ocular disorder in an eye. The ocular device includes a proximal end, a distal end, and an internal lumen forming a flow pathway extending from the proximal end to the distal end; at least one inflow region that communicates with the flow pathway; and an expandable portion having a plurality of interconnected struts forming multiple openings in the device communicating with the flow pathway. The expandable portion has a first cross-sectional shape suitable for insertion into the eye that is generally cylindrical and a second cross-sectional shape that is larger than the first cross-sectional shape. The system also includes a delivery device for inserting the ocular device into an eye including a sheath configured to surround at least a portion of the ocular device; an applier configured to insert into the internal lumen of the ocular device; and an actuator.

Abstract: An animal feces suction apparatus includes a tubular body having a stretching portion and a connection portion, a feces suction channel formed in the tubular body, a plurality of liquid channels disposed in a tube wall of the tubular body and formed with a plurality of liquid outlets in the stretching portion, an aspirator connected to the connection portion and communicated with the feces suction channel so as to generate a suction force within the feces suction channel, and a liquid supplying device connected to the connection portion and communicated with the liquid channels so as to provide a liquid to a large intestine of an animal via the liquid outlets. The stretching portion is stretched into the large intestine of the animal and transmits the liquid so as to soften the feces, and the feces is then sucked out from the large intestine through the feces suction channel by the suction force.

Abstract: A method for removing a fluid medium from a container. The method comprises providing a removal device with a closed-off, sterilizable interior, with a needle element being held in the interior, the interior being closed off by a perforable sealing element; providing the container which contains the fluid medium, the container having a container wall with a perforable section; connecting the removal device and the container, the perforable section and the perforable sealing element being interconnected such that a protected region is created between the perforable section and the perforable sealing element, the protected region being closed off with respect to the surroundings in a substantially germ-free fashion as a result of the connection; and perforating the perforable sealing element and the perforable section by means of the needle element, the needle element penetrating the protected region.

Abstract: The medical apparatus has lines that are connected to the vascular system of a patient. To ensure that an accidental escape of blood is identified, a camera is provided and is directed at the extracorporeal blood circuit of the patient. The image signals from the camera are processed in the sense that the color of blood and/or its arrangement in the image area in the camera image is determined, wherein the size of the recorded image area with the color of blood is also evaluated. In this way, an extracorporeal blood loss can be detected and signaled automatically.

Abstract: The middle ear ventilation tube is a ventilation tube for placement through an opening formed through the tympanic membrane to drain fluid from the middle ear to the ear canal or outer ear. The middle ear ventilation tube includes a hollow, substantially cylindrical tube having axially opposed first and second open ends. A first annular flange is formed about the first open end of the tube. The first annular flange defines a tapered angled edge for insertion through an opening formed through the patient's tympanic membrane. A second annular flange is formed about the second open end of the tube. The second annular flange has a tongue portion extending outwardly therefrom for grasping and manipulation. A notch is formed in the tongue portion, and a pair of recesses are formed in the second annular flange, each for engaging a needle for fine adjustment within the ear.

Abstract: An absorbent article, such as a wound pad, comprising a body of compressed thermoplastic or thermo-set open-celled foam is described, wherein the body has a pattern of ultrasonically made depressions in two opposite sides thereof, the depressions in the opposite sides being coaxial to each other and separated from each other by a common bottom portion which is compressed to a higher extent than the remaining parts of said body. A method for manufacturing such a body is also described.

Abstract: A valve assembly for adjusting the flow of bodily fluid from one part of a human body to another includes a body portion having a flow inlet and a flow outlet. A valve located in a flow path from the inlet to the outlet includes a valve seat and a closing element that is adapted to seal against the valve seat. A carrier element is mounted within the body portion and has a plurality of pockets. Each pocket houses a respective preload element, wherein each preload element is of a different weight from that of the other preload elements. The carrier element is moveable relative to the body portion so as to align a preload element of a desired weight with the closing element. The self weight of the chosen preload element applies a preload to the closing element dependent on the orientation of the valve assembly.

Abstract: A container containing a fluid for depositing the fluid drop-by-drop into a user's eye, includes a mirror element for reflecting the eye to assist in accurately dispensing the eye drops into the eye. The mirror element may be hingedly attached and rotatable from a closed position to a predetermined open position. Alternatively, the mirror may be detachably attached at a first position adjacent the container and relocatable to a second angularly displaced position to provide a reflection of the eye receiving the eye drops.

Abstract: The present application discloses a portable dialysis system for conducting a dialysis treatment. The portable dialysis system has a controller unit that includes a display, a scale, a bar code reader, and a memory storing a plurality of programmatic instructions. Upon execution, the instructions generate a first graphical user interface, a second graphical user interface, and a third graphical user interface for presentation on the display. The first graphical user interface displays each additive required for use in the dialysis treatment. The second graphical user interface prompts a user to submit additives to scanning using the bar code scanner. The third graphical user interface prompts a user to submit additives to measurement using the scale.

Abstract: In a blood bag system mounted in a centrifugation and separation apparatus, a filter is settable in different appropriate orientations at storage time and usage time, and first and second tubes and a filter are arranged respectively in appropriate orientations during use. The blood bag system includes a BC pooling bag for centrifugation of buffy coat, the filter for removing white blood cells from a supernatant liquid transferred from the BC pooling bag, a platelet preserving bag for reserving the supernatant liquid that has passed through the filter, the first tube connecting the BC pooling bag and an inlet of the filter, the second tube connecting the platelet preserving bag and an outlet of the filter, a cassette fixable in the centrifugation and separation apparatus, an attachment for holding the filter, and a hinge section tiltable relative to the cassette with reference to an axis in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices, methods and systems for treatment of eye disease such as glaucoma. Implants are described herein that enhance aqueous flow through the normal outflow system of the eye with minimal to no complications. The implant can include reversibly deformable portions that have a plurality of openings layered, covered or otherwise spanned by an elastomeric film or membrane having micropores. The micropores allow for fluid flow out of the implant while inhibit cellular infiltration and blockage of the openings.