Abstract: A vessel occlusion apparatus includes an elongate shaft having a fluid delivery lumen; and an expandable member carried on a distal an end portion of the shaft, the expandable member comprising a body defining an interior region, the interior region communication with the fluid delivery lumen, the body comprising a wall having one or more embedded fluid pockets therein, each of the one or more pockets containing a fluid capable of being imaged, e.g., having echogenic qualities for detection using ultrasound imaging.

Abstract: Medical devices, and related components and methods, are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and related medical devices include delivering a catheter into a lumen of a subject. The catheter can include a generally tubular member having a lumen, a proximal region, and a distal region, and an inflatable member carried by a portion of the generally tubular member. The method can also include curving the portion of the generally tubular member that carries the inflatable member within the lumen of the subject, and disposing a material (e.g., an embolic material or a contrast agent) into the lumen of the generally tubular member.

Abstract: The invention, in various embodiments, provides systems, devices, and methods for treating urinary incontinence. The invention also provides a driver and methods for advancing needles, cannulas, and other medical devices through the pubic bone. The driver may be used in connection with a driver frame assembly for proper positioning and stabilization of the driver, and with other devices for creating a cavity in the urethral floor and for positioning medical devices therein. The invention also provides simple connections for attaching a suture to a device within the cavity in the urethral floor or in the vagina, an also for attaching sutures to the pubic bone.

Abstract: The invention, in various embodiments, provides systems, devices, and methods for treating urinary incontinence. The invention also provides a driver and methods for advancing needles, cannulas, and other medical devices through the pubic bone. The driver may be used in connection with a driver frame assembly for proper positioning and stabilization of the driver, and with other devices for creating a cavity in the urethral floor and for positioning medical devices therein. The invention also provides simple connections for attaching a suture to a device within the cavity in the urethral floor or in the vagina, an also for attaching sutures to the pubic bone.

Abstract: The invention, in various embodiments, provides systems, devices, and methods for treating urinary incontinence. The invention also provides a driver and methods for advancing needles, cannulas, and other medical devices through the pubic bone. The driver may be used in connection with a driver frame assembly for proper positioning and stabilization of the driver, and with other devices for creating a cavity in the urethral floor and for positioning medical devices therein. The invention also provides simple connections for attaching a suture to a device within the cavity in the urethral floor or in the vagina, an also for attaching sutures to the pubic bone.

Abstract: The invention, in various embodiments, provides systems, devices, and methods for treating urinary incontinence.

Abstract: Methods and devices for occluding a vessel during a percutaneous ablation procedure. An elongated access device having a lumen and a tissue piercing, open distal end in communication with the lumen is used to percutaneously access a vessel that supplied blood to the tissue to be treated. An elongated balloon deployment device is used to deliver a balloon into the interior of the vessel. The balloon is inflated, resulting in the occlusion of the vessel. The tissue to be treated is ablated. Because there is little or no blood to transfer the thermal energy away from the heated tissue, the ablation procedure is performed more efficiently. The balloon may be subsequently deflated allowing normal flow through the vessel to return.

Abstract: A vessel occlusion apparatus includes an elongate shaft having a fluid delivery lumen; and an expandable member carried on a distal an end portion of the shaft, the expandable member comprising a body defining an interior region, the interior region communication with the fluid delivery lumen, the body comprising a wall having one or more embedded fluid pockets therein, each of the one or more pockets containing a fluid capable of being imaged, e.g., having echogenic qualities for detection using ultrasound imaging.

Abstract: A vessel occlusion apparatus includes an elongate shaft having a fluid delivery lumen; and an expandable member carried on a distal end portion of the shaft, the expandable member comprising a body defining an interior region, the interior region in communication with the fluid delivery lumen, the body comprising a wall having one or more embedded fluid pockets therein, each of the one or more pockets containing a fluid capable of being imaged, e.g., having echogenic qualities for detection using ultrasound imaging.

Abstract: Medical probe kits and methods for treating tissue regions (e.g. tumors) are provided. The kit comprises a delivery cannula and an ablation probe. The delivery cannula comprises a shaft, a lumen extending through the shaft, and a plurality of windows formed through a wall of the shaft in communication with the cannula lumen. The ablation probe is configured to be removably disposed within the cannula lumen. The ablation probe has a shaft and proximal and distal arrays of electrodes that are deployable from the probe shaft. The electrodes of the proximal array are configured to be deployed out from the respective windows when the ablation probe is disposed within the cannula lumen. The electrodes of the distal array may be configured to be deployed out from an axial opening at the distal end of the cannula shaft when the ablation probe is disposed within the cannula lumen.

Abstract: The invention, in various embodiments, provides systems, devices, and methods for treating urinary incontinence.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprises an elongated body member having a distal end and a head extending from the distal end of the elongated body member, with the head comprising a remotely actuatable needle driver and a needle catch. A needle is adapted for receiving a suture and for being driven by the needle driver through a tissue into the needle catch, making a stitch. The instrument further comprises a remotely actuatable implement, such as a push bar, for moving the needle from a first position lodged in the needle catch to a second position dislodged from or able to be readily dislodged from the needle catch. The instrument may be used for placing multiple stitches without removing the instrument from the body. One particularly advantageous embodiment comprises a suturing device adapted for insertion in a body lumen, such as for attaching an endoluminal device to the lumen wall.

Abstract: Methods and devices for occluding a vessel during a percutaneous ablation procedure. An elongated access device having a lumen and a tissue piercing, open distal end in communication with the lumen is used to percutaneously access a vessel that supplied blood to the tissue to be treated. An elongated balloon deployment device is used to deliver a balloon into the interior of the vessel. The balloon is inflated, resulting in the occlusion of the vessel. The tissue to be treated is ablated. Because there is little or no blood to transfer the thermal energy away from the heated tissue, the ablation procedure is performed more efficiently. The balloon may be subsequently deflated allowing normal flow through the vessel to return.

Abstract: Methods and devices for occluding a vessel during a percutaneous ablation procedure. An elongated access device having a lumen and a tissue piercing, open distal end in communication with the lumen is used to percutaneously access a vessel that supplied blood to the tissue to be treated. An elongated balloon deployment device is used to deliver a balloon into the interior of the vessel. The balloon is inflated, resulting in the occlusion of the vessel. The tissue to be treated is ablated. Because there is little or no blood to transfer the thermal energy away from the heated tissue, the ablation procedure is performed more efficiently. The balloon may be subsequently deflated allowing normal flow through the vessel to return.

Abstract: The invention, in various embodiments, provides systems, devices, and methods for treating urinary incontinence.

Abstract: The invention, in various embodiments, provides systems, devices, and methods for treating urinary incontinence. The invention also provides a driver and methods for advancing needles, cannulas, and other medical devices through the pubic bone. The driver may be used in connection with a driver frame assembly for proper positioning and stabilization of the driver, and with other devices for creating a cavity in the urethral floor and for positioning medical devices therein. The invention also provides simple connections for attaching a suture to a device within the cavity in the urethral floor or in the vagina, and also for attaching sutures to the pubic bone.

Abstract: A device and a method for creating access and therapeutically closing an opening in a tissue.

Abstract: A device for providing access to an implantable fluid transfer port, comprises a needle extending to a distal end insertable into body to enter a reservoir of a port implanted therein and an actuation member extending through a lumen of the needle from an actuator which remains external to a living body accessible to a user thereof in combination with an obturator coupled to a distal end of the actuation member, an outer diameter of the obturator substantially matching an inner diameter of the lumen of the needle so that, when retracted into the lumen, the obturator seals a distal opening thereof and an anchoring mechanism coupled to the actuation member proximally of the obturator, the anchoring mechanism being moved to an expanded state in which an outer diameter of the anchoring mechanism exceeds an outer diameter of the needle when moved out of the lumen of the needle.

Abstract: A catheter comprising a tube having a distal end for deployment in a patient, and a proximal end for remaining outside of the patient; an anchoring mechanism at the distal end of the tube having a fully open configuration, a fully closed configuration, and a range of configurations therebetween; a filamentary member attached to the anchoring mechanism for controlling the configuration of the anchoring mechanism; and a controller located at or near the proximal end of the tube for controlling the filamentary member, wherein the controller comprises an indicator for visually indicating the anchoring mechanism configuration, a locking mechanism for locking the anchoring mechanism in the fully closed configuration; or a combination of the visual indicator and the locking mechanism.