Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, surgical films for soft tissue repair are provided. The surgical films comprise at least one sheet of a non-filamentous material within which pores are formed. Further aspects of the invention, among others, pertain to methods of using such surgical films and to kits containing such surgical films.

Abstract: According to one aspect, the present invention provides a substantially two-dimensional surgical mesh comprising a base material, a first area having a first characteristic and a second area having a second characteristic that differs from the first characteristic. The surgical mesh may further comprise a third area having a third characteristic that may be the same as or different from the first and second characteristics, and so on.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a stylet includes a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a medial portion between the proximal end portion and the distal end portion. The distal end portion of the stylet is configured to be releasably coupled to a first portion of an implant. The medial portion of the stylet has at least one retention member configured to be releasably coupled to a second portion of the implant.

Abstract: A medical assembly includes an implant and an envelope at least partially enclosing a portion of the implant. The envelope may include a tongue to protect the implant, a scaffold to provide integrity to the envelope, a tab access to ease envelope withdrawal, and/or one or more discontinuities to ease envelope withdrawal.

Abstract: The present invention provides devices and methods for associating an implantable sling with a delivery device for delivering the sling to an anatomical location in a patient.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a stent includes an elongate member and a distal retention member. The elongate member is configured to be disposed within a ureter of a patient and has a first portion, a second portion and a plurality of beads bonded together. The plurality of beads define a plurality of spaces between the plurality of beads. The plurality of spaces are configured to allow fluid to flow from the first portion of the elongate member to the second portion of the elongate member. The distal retention member is configured to help maintain a portion of the stent within a kidney of the patient.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention includes disposing a cover about a capillary used in a side-firing optical fiber. The cover can be used to protect the capillary when being inserted through an endoscope for medical treatment. In some embodiments, the cover can be a low-profile cover such as a coating made of a light-sensitive polymer or like material. At least a portion of the coating can be removed after insertion by exposing the light-sensitive material to laser energy transmitted from an optical-fiber-core end housed within the capillary. In other embodiments, the cover can be a slideable or moveable low-profile sleeve or metal cover. During insertion, the sleeve or metal cover is positioned over the capillary. After insertion, the sleeve or metal cover is retracted to expose the area to be treated to side-fired laser energy transmitted from the capillary.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a stent includes an elongate member and a distal retention member. The elongate member is configured to be disposed within a ureter of a patient and has a first portion, a second portion and a plurality of beads bonded together. The plurality of beads define a plurality of spaces between the plurality of beads. The plurality of spaces are configured to allow fluid to flow from the first portion of the elongate member to the second portion of the elongate member. The distal retention member is configured to help maintain a portion of the stent within a kidney of the patient.

Abstract: The present invention provides devices and methods for associating an implantable sling with a delivery device for delivering the sling to an anatomical location in a patient.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a stent includes an elongate member and a distal retention member. The elongate member is configured to be disposed within a ureter of a patient and has a first portion, a second portion and a plurality of beads bonded together. The plurality of beads define a plurality of spaces between the plurality of beads. The plurality of spaces are configured to allow fluid to flow from the first portion of the elongate member to the second portion of the elongate member. The distal retention member is configured to help maintain a portion of the stent within a kidney of the patient.

Abstract: A urinary stent includes an elongate member that defines a lumen extending therethrough and that is configured to be disposed at least partially within a prostatic portion of a urethra of a patient. The elongate member includes a collapsible portion disposed at a proximal end portion of the elongate member. The collapsible portion has a first configuration in which an outer perimeter at a proximal end of the collapsible portion is substantially equal to an outer perimeter of a remaining portion of the elongate member and a second configuration in which the outer perimeter at the proximal end of the collapsible portion is smaller than the outer perimeter of the remaining portion of the elongate member.

Abstract: According to one aspect, the present invention provides a substantially two-dimensional surgical mesh comprising a base material, a first area having a first characteristic and a second area having a second characteristic that differs from the first characteristic. The surgical mesh may further comprise a third area having a third characteristic that may be the same as or different from the first and second characteristics, and so on.

Abstract: According to one aspect, the present invention provides a substantially two-dimensional surgical mesh comprising a base material, a first area having a first characteristic and a second area having a second characteristic that differs from the first characteristic. The surgical mesh may further comprise a third area having a third characteristic that may be the same as or different from the first and second characteristics, and so on.

Abstract: A medical assembly includes an implant and an envelope at least partially enclosing a portion of the implant. The envelope may include a tongue to protect the implant, a scaffold to provide integrity to the envelope, a tab access to ease envelope withdrawal, and/or one or more discontinuities to ease envelope withdrawal.

Abstract: Devices and methods for delivering and placing a surgical sling without resorting to an abdominal incision are disclosed.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a stylet includes a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a medial portion between the proximal end portion and the distal end portion. The distal end portion of the stylet is configured to be releasably coupled to a first portion of an implant. The medial portion of the stylet has at least one retention member configured to be releasably coupled to a second portion of the implant.

Abstract: A system comprises a first signal handling unit sized and shaped for insertion to a reference distance within a first body cavity and a probe sized and shaped for insertion into a second body cavity the probe including an energy emitting head and a second signal handling unit, wherein one of the first and second signal handling units comprises a transmitter and the other of the first and second signal handling units comprises one of a receiver adapted to receive signals from the transmitter and a signal reflecting element, wherein, when the other of the first and second signal handling units comprises a signal reflecting element, the one of the first and second signal handling units comprises a receiver in combination with a controller operatively connected to the receiver, the controller generating an output varying as a distance between the first and second signal handling units varies.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a stent includes an elongate member and a distal retention member. The elongate member is configured to be disposed within a ureter of a patient and has a first portion, a second portion and a plurality of beads bonded together. The plurality of beads define a plurality of spaces between the plurality of beads. The plurality of spaces are configured to allow fluid to flow from the first portion of the elongate member to the second portion of the elongate member. The distal retention member is configured to help maintain a portion of the stent within a kidney of the patient.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention includes disposing a cover about a capillary used in a side-firing optical fiber. The cover can be used to protect the capillary when being inserted through an endoscope for medical treatment. In some embodiments, the cover can be a low-profile cover such as a coating made of a light-sensitive polymer or like material. At least a portion of the coating can be removed after insertion by exposing the light-sensitive material to laser energy transmitted from an optical-fiber-core end housed within the capillary. In other embodiments, the cover can be a slideable or moveable low-profile sleeve or metal cover. During insertion, the sleeve or metal cover is positioned over the capillary. After insertion, the sleeve or metal cover is retracted to expose the area to be treated to side-fired laser energy transmitted from the capillary.

Abstract: A digital imaging endoscope with an elongated shaft has a core member for imparting flexibility and column strength to the shaft. The shaft extends distally from a proximal handle, and at least part of the shaft, or the entire shaft, comprises an inner member, the core member, and an outer member. The inner member defines at least three lumens. A first lumen is for receiving an instrument, a second lumen is for receiving one or more wires for connecting a digital imaging device at a distal portion of the shaft to a display unit, and a third lumen is for receiving the core member. The core member can occupy the space within the shaft that was traditionally occupied by a fiber optic bundle in non-digital imaging endoscopes. The outer member is disposed over the inner member of the shaft, and the outer member defines a lumen through which the inner member extends.