Abstract: A speculum cover that is adapted to sheath the blades of a speculum, and to support lateral vaginal walls to facilitate vaginal/cervical examination during gynecological exams and surgery. The speculum cover includes top and bottom pockets for the respective blades of the speculum, and side portions having openings therein for sampling of tissue at the vaginal locus. In a specific implementation, the speculum cover is of a four-ply construction, formed by impulse welding or other polymeric film joining technique, and the two inner plies of the cover include rearwardly extending flaps to which are adhesively secured donning guide members for facilitating installation of the cover on the speculum.

Abstract: A speculum cover that is adapted to sheath the blades of a speculum, and to support lateral vaginal walls to facilitate vaginal/cervical examination during gynecological exams and surgery. The speculum cover includes top and bottom pockets for the respective blades of the speculum, and side portions having openings therein for sampling of tissue at the vaginal locus. In a specific implementation, the speculum cover is of a four-ply construction, formed by impulse welding or other polymeric film joining technique, and the two inner plies of the cover include rearwardly extending flaps to which are adhesively secured donning guide members for facilitating installation of the cover on the speculum.

Abstract: A male urinary incontinence control device including a circumferentially continuous inflatable cuff having a plurality of inflatable passages therein, optionally reinforced by rigid members, that slips over the glans of the penis for positioning along the longitudinal axis of the penile shaft. Upon inflation, the cuff applies radially inwardly directed compressive force to the shaft of the penis with a concomitant restriction of the urethral passageway. The inflatable cuff in one embodiment includes an integrated hand pump for convenient inflation and deflation.

Abstract: A male urinary incontinence control device including a circumferentially continuous inflatable cuff having a plurality of inflatable passages therein, optionally reinforced by rigid members, that slips over the glans of the penis for positioning along the longitudinal axis of the penile shaft. Upon inflation, the cuff applies radially inwardly directed compressive force to the shaft of the penis with a concomitant restriction of the urethral passageway. The inflatable cuff in one embodiment includes an integrated hand pump for convenient inflation and deflation.

Abstract: A protective cover for an article such as a stethoscope, comprising a bag member of elongate form, closed at a first end and fully or partially open at a second, opposite end to form an enclosed volume for retention of the head and elongate connector body of a stethoscope. The two longitudinal sides of such bag member can be seamless; alternatively, such longitudinal sides can comprise two seam lines. The bag member is longitudinally, medially severable at an end portion that include the second, open end, to yield two free end segments for covering respective ear tubes of the stethoscope. The protective cover may further include retention means for positionally retaining the free end segments of the bag member in protective covering relationship to the ear tubes of the stethoscope, e.g., adhesive and/or compressive clips, or a transverse heat seal at marginal extremities of the free end segments.

Abstract: An inflatable structure comprising an inflation compartment defining an enclosed interior volume and an anti-reflux valve having an outlet end positioned in the interior volume. The anti-reflux valve includes an elongate inflation passage including opposedly facing film layers that are bonded to one another at their edges to form an interior gas flow channel. The elongate inflation passage is bonded to the inflatable compartment to form an opening for introduction of gas into the passage, for inflation of the inflation compartment, and arranged so that upon termination of gas flow into the interior volume, after pressure in the interior volume has been raised above exterior pressure on the inflatable compartment, gas pressure in the interior volume collapses the opposedly facing film layers against one another to form a seal against the interior volume gas pressure and maintain the inflation compartment in an inflated state.

Abstract: A urinary incontinence device comprising a tubular insert having a free distal end and an opposing proximal end, the insert being configured to be received within the urethra of a patient and being sufficiently flexible to be collapsed under constriction of the urethra. A flange radially projects out from the proximal end of the insert and is configured to seal against the opening of the urethra. An expandable reservoir is attached to the flange on the opposing side of the insert. A fluid channel extends from an opening on the exterior of the insert to the reservoir.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating incontinence in a patient that has a bladder and a urethra. The urethra forms a lumen for draining the bladder. The method comprises the steps of delivering an agent into the lumen and passing the agent from the lumen to internal body tissue. The agent increases restriction of the lumen thereby providing increased control over urine flow from the bladder.

Abstract: An incontinence treatment plug includes a plug member which is sized to extend in an extended position into a urethra in sealing engagement. The plug member is originally everted. A force is applied to the plug member to force the plug member from an everted position into an extended position.

Abstract: A rolling incontinence plug partially or fully inserted within a urethra has an anchor to restrict its insertion into the urethra. The anchor is configured to be placed between a vestibule and labia minora for restricting insertion of the incontinence plug. The outer circumference of the anchor easily conforms to the shape of the vestibule and responds to varying pressure of the labia minora as the patient moves. Further, because the anchor naturally conforms to the vestibule, no additional artificial substances or devices are needed to secure the anchor.

Abstract: An incontinence plug includes an anchor for positioning within a patient's bladder and a flow blocking enlargement for acting in sealing engagement against a urethral wall. A protective sleeve prevents contact between the distal end of the plug and an entrance end of the urethra to prevent transportation of pathogens from the entrance of the urethra toward the bladder.

Abstract: A hand operable, two-component fluid pump for inflating an inflatable penile prosthesis. The pump comprises a high-volume, low-pressure first pump component and at least one low-volume, high-pressure second pump component. Fluid to be pumped to the prosthesis is housed within the first component, and each of the first and second components is in valved communication with the prosthesis and in valved communication with each other. In a preferred embodiment the second pump component is disposed within the first pump component. The pump preferably can be implanted within the user, with the most preferable implantation site being within the scrotal sack.

Abstract: An inflatable penile prosthesis having at least one inflatable cylinder or pressurizable chamber, a fluid reservoir, pump means, and valves for permitting the flow of fluid between said reservoir and cylinder or chamber as a consequence of pressure changes, wherein to prevent spontaneous inflation there is provided an additional lock-out valve disposed at a point between the reservoir and chamber, which will be opened only by the application of a suitable pressure or force exerted volitionally from without the prosthesis. In a preferred embodiment the prosthesis is of a non-unitary type in which the pump means is in the scrotum.

Abstract: An implantable penile prosthesis comprises a tubular body for implantation in a patient's penis and a fluid reservoir for implantation in a patient's body outside the penis. The tubular body and reservoir are in fluid communication with each other. The tubular body comprises a tubular chamber which is inflatable from a flaccid to an erect state when filled substantially to capacity. Fluid flow to and from the chamber is by way of a manually actuatable valve system. The valve system moves between an open position allowing for change from the erect state to the flaccid state, and a closed position allowing for change from the flaccid state to the erect state.

Abstract: An implantable penile prosthesis comprises a tubular body for implantation in a patient's penis and a fluid reservoir for implantation in a patient's body outside the penis. The tubular body and reservoir are in fluid communication with each other. The tubular body comprises a tubular chamber which is inflatable from a flaccid to an erect state when filled substantially to capacity. Fluid flow to and from the chamber is by way of a manually actuatable valve system. The valve system moves between an open position allowing for change from the erect state to the flaccid state, and a closed position allowing for change from the flaccid state to the erect state. The valve system is movable from the second closed position to the first open position by bending of the penis.

Abstract: A prosthesis to be implanted in the penis for simulating an erection is disclosed. The prosthesis has at least one cylinder to be implanted in the corpora cavernosa. A flat coil spring is contained within the cylinder. When uncompressed, the spring allows the cylinder and the penis to remain flaccid. When compressed, the spring forms a rigid column that erects the cylinder and the penis and resists bending under pressure. The spring is preferably compressed by inflating an expandable chamber adjacent to the spring within the cylinder.

Abstract: A mechanical penile prosthesis is disclosed. The prosthesis includes a sleeve that encapsulates a linear assembly of cups, an actuating means and a cable. The linear assembly of cups allows the prosthesis to be bent from an erect position to a flaccid position. The actuating mechanism includes a biasing member, a poppet with first and second shoulders, one or more sliding rings, and a flexible tine. Bending the prosthesis from its erect position to its flaccid position causes the poppet to move toward the distal end of the prosthesis, allowing the tines to lock behind the second shoulder. To return the prosthesis to its erect state the prosthesis is bent further until the sliding ring separates the tines, allowing the biasing member to force the second shoulder past the tines; the tines snapping back into a position on the proximal side of the first shoulder.

Abstract: A connector stent of adjustable length is provided for draining fluid through a biological passage. The connector stent comprises an elongated tubular member and a connector. A retaining means is disposed at one end of the elongated tubular member, the other end being straight. A retaining means is disposed at one end of the connector, the other end being adapted to engage the straight end of the elongated tubular member. The straight end of the elongated tubular member may be cut to a desired length before engaging the connector so that the length of the connector stent corresponds to the length of the fluid passageway to be drained.