Abstract: A coated surgical mesh, the coated surgical mesh comprising: a surgical mesh, the surgical mesh comprising a first surface and a second surface; and a tissue ingrowth-preventing coating applied to the second surface of the surgical mesh; wherein the tissue ingrowth-preventing coating penetrates a controllable amount part way through the surgical mesh.

Abstract: A coated surgical mesh, the coated surgical mesh comprising: a surgical mesh, the surgical mesh comprising a first surface and a second surface; and a tissue ingrowth-preventing coating applied to the second surface of the surgical mesh; wherein the tissue ingrowth-preventing coating penetrates a controllable amount part way through the surgical mesh.

Abstract: An implant may include a frame and a cover to facilitate endoluminal vessel occlusion, selective release of embolic material toward a target region, and/or endoluminal stenting. The frame of the implant provides radial expansion properties to secure the cover within a body vessel. The cover and/or the frame can occlude flow of a fluid through the body vessel.

Abstract: An implant may include a frame and a cover to facilitate endoluminal vessel occlusion, selective release of embolic material toward a target region, and/or endoluminal stenting. The frame of the implant provides radial expansion properties to secure the cover within a body vessel. The cover and/or the frame can occlude flow of a fluid through the body vessel.

Abstract: An implant may include a frame and a cover to facilitate endoluminal vessel occlusion, selective release of embolic material toward a target region, and/or endoluminal stenting. The frame of the implant provides radial expansion properties to secure the cover within a body vessel. The cover and/or the frame can occlude flow of a fluid through the body vessel.

Abstract: An implant may include a frame and a cover to facilitate endoluminal vessel occlusion, selective release of embolic material toward a target region, and/or endoluminal stenting. The frame of the implant provides radial expansion properties to secure the cover within a body vessel. The cover and/or the frame can occlude flow of a fluid through the body vessel.

Abstract: A system for implanting a catheter in a urethra. The system includes a catheter having a valve disposed at a distal portion of the catheter. The valve may be operable in response to an external magnetic field. The system also includes a tool having a tip member extending into an opening at the distal portion of the catheter to couple the tool to the catheter. the system also includes an element extending from the tool. The catheter has an internal path that provides a conduit for the element to be extended through the valve to engage a proximal portion of the catheter. The tool is adapted use the element to stress the catheter and stiffen the catheter along the length of the catheter. Stiffening the catheter facilitates implantation of the catheter in the urethra by enabling pull forces, push forces, and torque forces to be transmitted from the tool through the catheter to the proximal portion of the catheter without undue stress on the urethra.

Abstract: An expandable device can be delivered to a luminal structure in a patient using a delivery system. The delivery system can include an elongate carrier member and an engagement component that can releasably engage the expandable device. The elongate carrier member can have a distal portion, a central axis, and a first notch in the distal portion. The engagement component can be positioned within the first notch. Further, the expandable frame can be coupled to the distal portion of the carrier member and have a first terminal end section. When coupled to the carrier member, the first terminal and section can (i) pass from a first end of the first notch through a space between the central axis and the engagement component and (ii) terminate outside of the first notch, beyond a second end of the first notch.

Abstract: A system for implanting a catheter in a urethra. The system includes a catheter having a valve disposed at a distal portion of the catheter. The valve may be operable in response to an external magnetic field. The system also includes a tool having a tip member extending into an opening at the distal portion of the catheter to couple the tool to the catheter. the system also includes an element extending from the tool. The catheter has an internal path that provides a conduit for the element to be extended through the valve to engage a proximal portion of the catheter. The tool is adapted use the element to stress the catheter and stiffen the catheter along the length of the catheter. Stiffening the catheter facilitates implantation of the catheter in the urethra by enabling pull forces, push forces, and torque forces to be transmitted from the tool through the catheter to the proximal portion of the catheter without undue stress on the urethra.

Abstract: An implant may include a frame and a cover to facilitate endoluminal vessel occlusion, selective release of embolic material toward a target region, and/or endoluminal stenting. The frame of the implant provides radial expansion properties to secure the cover within a body vessel. The cover and/or the frame can reduce or occlude flow of a fluid through the body vessel.

Abstract: A device for delivering an expandable member to a luminal structure in a patient is described. In some embodiments, the device has a carrier member, with a carrier lumen extending at least partially therethrough. The device can have an elongate member that extends through the carrier lumen across a first notch in the carrier member. The device can have an expandable member that expands within and engages the luminal structure, can be carried by the carrier member, and has a first portion that fits within the first notch. When the elongate member extends through the carrier lumen and across the first notch, the elongate member secures the first portion to the carrier member. The elongate member is configured to move axially through the carrier lumen such that the elongate member permits release of the first portion from the carrier member and expansion of at least part of the expandable member.

Abstract: An implant may include a frame and a cover to facilitate endoluminal vessel occlusion, selective release of embolic material toward a target region, and/or endoluminal stenting. The frame of the implant provides radial expansion properties to secure the cover within a body vessel. The cover and/or the frame can reduce or occlude flow of a fluid through the body vessel.

Abstract: A system for implanting a catheter in a urethra. The system includes a catheter having a valve disposed at a distal portion of the catheter. The valve may be operable in response to an external magnetic field. The system also includes a tool having a tip member extending into an opening at the distal portion of the catheter to couple the tool to the catheter. the system also includes an element extending from the tool. The catheter has an internal path that provides a conduit for the element to be extended through the valve to engage a proximal portion of the catheter. The tool is adapted use the element to stress the catheter and stiffen the catheter along the length of the catheter. Stiffening the catheter facilitates implantation of the catheter in the urethra by enabling pull forces, push forces, and torque forces to be transmitted from the tool through the catheter to the proximal portion of the catheter without undue stress on the urethra.

Abstract: An implant may include a frame and a cover to facilitate endoluminal vessel occlusion, selective release of embolic material toward a target region, and/or endoluminal stenting. The frame of the implant provides radial expansion properties to secure the cover within a body vessel. The cover and/or the frame can occlude flow of a fluid through the body vessel.

Abstract: An implant may include a frame and a cover to facilitate endoluminal vessel occlusion, selective release of embolic material toward a target region, and/or endoluminal stenting. The frame of the implant provides radial expansion properties to secure the cover within a body vessel. The cover and/or the frame can occlude flow of a fluid through the body vessel.

Abstract: A device for delivering an expandable member to a luminal structure in a patient is described. In some embodiments, the device has a carrier member, with a carrier lumen extending at least partially therethrough. The device can have an elongate member that extends through the carrier lumen across a first notch in the carrier member. The device can have an expandable member that expands within and engages the luminal structure, can be carried by the carrier member, and has a first portion that fits within the first notch. When the elongate member extends through the carrier lumen and across the first notch, the elongate member secures the first portion to the carrier member. The elongate member is configured to move axially through the carrier lumen such that the elongate member permits release of the first portion from the carrier member and expansion of at least part of the expandable member.

Abstract: A system for implanting a catheter in a urethra. The system includes a catheter having a valve disposed at a distal portion of the catheter. The valve may be operable in response to an external magnetic field. The system also includes a tool having a tip member extending into an opening at the distal portion of the catheter to couple the tool to the catheter. the system also includes an element extending from the tool. The catheter has an internal path that provides a conduit for the element to be extended through the valve to engage a proximal portion of the catheter. The tool is adapted use the element to stress the catheter and stiffen the catheter along the length of the catheter. Stiffening the catheter facilitates implantation of the catheter in the urethra by enabling pull forces, push forces, and torque forces to be transmitted from the tool through the catheter to the proximal portion of the catheter without undue stress on the urethra.

Abstract: A method of forming an annularly expanding and retracting gripping and releasing mechanism providing a series of flexible tubes, comprising providing (1) a series of flexible tubes, (2) a corresponding series of wires, each of which includes a movable wire section and relatively short fixed wire section integrally connected with one end of the movable wire section by a kink configured so that the wire sections extend in longitudinally coextensive relation therefrom; (3) a series of tubular elements of thermoplastic material; and (4) a series of heat shrinkable sleeves assembling a distal end portion of each flexible tube with a fixed wire section, a tubular element and a heat shrinkable sleeve so that the fixed wire section extends along the exterior periphery of the flexible tube with the kink disposed outwardly of the distal end thereof.

Abstract: An expansible and retractable mechanism of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,175 and/or a medical grasper of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,906,622 in which (1) the fixed flexure elements are self-biased to move into the expanded condition thereof. A handpiece for the medical grasper is constructed and arranged so that after a stone has been grasped, a further digital pull on the movable handpiece structure effects the application of a limiting resiliently yielding force to the gripping action.

Abstract: An expansible and retractable mechanism of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,175 and/or a medical grasper of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,906,622 in which (1) the fixed flexure elements are self-biased to move into the expanded condition thereof.