Abstract: The invention describes a closure device for the provision of freshly created gastric feeding fistulas, the basis of the design of the device being an introverted balloon that allows a sealing and hemostatic axial traction movement on the fistula that is to be sealed, the concentric balloon ends which run transmurally through the stomach and abdominal wall being arranged in a special seal-promoting and hemostatic manner.

Abstract: The invention describes a closure device for the provision of freshly created gastric feeding fistulas, the basis of the design of the device being an introverted balloon that allows a sealing and hemostatic axial traction movement on the fistula that is to be sealed, the concentric balloon ends which run transmurally through the stomach and abdominal wall being arranged in a special seal-promoting and hemostatic manner.

Abstract: The invention describes a closure device for the provision of freshly created gastric feeding fistulas, the basis of the design of the device being an introverted balloon that allows a sealing and hemostatic axial traction movement on the fistula that is to be sealed, the concentric balloon ends which run transmurally through the stomach and abdominal wall being arranged in a special seal-promoting and hemostatic manner.

Abstract: An occlusion system for management of rectal or anal incontinence, including a shaft element with a distal end and a proximal end and with a lumen extending all the way from the distal end to the proximal end of the shaft element. A balloon is mounted adhesively and sealingly on the shaft element and can be filled with a filing medium via a filing line, wherein the balloon is formed from a tube section and is shaped so that when filled with the filing medium it forms a first balloon configuration as an intrarectal balloon and a second balloon configuration as an abutment balloon, which are delimited from each other by a constriction. The distal end of the shaft element is designed with an end cap with a tip and, at a distance from the tip, at least one gas inlet opening provides communication with the lumen of the shaft element.

Abstract: The invention relates to device (1; 1?) for closing a natural or artificial anus, comprising an inflatable balloon (2) with an approximately toroidal structure made from a flat tube section, which is turned inside out and whose both ends (7, 8) extend coaxially into one another and are each joined to a sleeve (9). The outer layer (5) of the tube section that is turned inside out has a radially enlarged, patient-proximal area (3) for inserting into the rectum and has a patient-distal area (11, 7, 8), which is tapered thereto and which remains, at least in areas, outside of the rectum during use. The tube sections have, in the transanal area (11, 7, 8), a material hardness H1 of greater than 60 according to Shore hardness test A. According to the invention, a stiffening sleeve (14) is placed inside the interrectal area (3) of the inner layer (5) in such a manner that this sleeve is completely separated from the hollow space (10) inside the balloon (2) by its inner penetrable layer (5).

Abstract: An apparatus for ablating tissue with the uterine cavity is provided. The apparatus includes an ablation catheter and an expansible member. The expansible member is attached to the ablation catheter and it has a residual volume greater than the volume of the uterine cavity and exhibits residual dimensions greater than the anatomical dimensions of the uterine cavity.

Abstract: A surgical drape that promotes enhanced protection of the surgical site from pathogens is provided. The surgical drape includes a base sheet and a connecting element in communication with the drape, the connecting element being adapted to enable a male or female fit into a connector of a medical device and further adapted to occlude an opening in the central region of the base sheet.

Abstract: An enteral feeding unit or system that minimizes the occurrence of gastro-esophogeal-pharynegal reflux during feeding is described. The enteral feeding unit or device includes an automatable feeding pump with a feedback sensor for sensing a relative pressure in a patient's stomach and esophagus, and a regulator system for controlling or monitoring feeding rate to said patient as a function of said relative gastro-esophageal pressure. The system includes a stomach probe that has a fluid-tight closure of the esophagus.

Abstract: The invention describes a percutaneous gastrointestinal anchoring kit having an anchor, an introducer, a guide, an inflator, and a retainer. The anchor contains a ballooned region and a shaft portion. The retainer secures the anchor within the stomach when the ballooned region is inflated by seating against an exterior surface of the patient body and placing a tractive force on the ballooned region so as to pull the gastric lumen to an interior abdominal wall of the patient body. The introducer is used to insert the anchor initially within the stomach. The guide positions the ballooned region of the anchor within the stomach by enabling manipulation from an exterior surface of the patient body. The inflator is used to selectively inflate or deflate the ballooned region as needed.

Abstract: An indwelling urinary catheter for transurethral introduction into a urinary bladder is shown and described herein. The catheter includes a flexible catheter shaft having a wall, a filling channel is integrated into the wall, and a thin foil balloon element having a film-like structure. The balloon element when positioned in the bladder is adapted to contact internal urinary bladder structures over at least about 30 percent of a balloon element surface area. The seal is greater than seals of equivalent balloon structures.

Abstract: The invention describes a device and method for anchoring two or more body tissue layers to one another. The device in one form may be a hollow, collapsible, microthin polymeric shaft affixed to a noncollapsible tip at a distal end of die polymeric shaft. A preformed balloonable distention formed in a discrete region of the shaft proximal to die noncollapsible tip would be adapted to anchor against one of die body tissue layers within a body orifice. A rod attached at one end to the tip which extends along die shaft and terminates at a second end near a proximal end of the device would be used for transferring movement from the second end to die first end so as to effect a movement in the tip. The method pertains to the method of using such a device to secure one or more tissue layers together, ultimately to assist in the fusion of the layers.

Abstract: A closure system for managing rectal or anal incontinence, having a shaft element, with a distal end and a proximal end and at least one lumen. An inflatable intrarectal balloon includes a flexible, extensible plastic material with a distal end and a proximal end, each of which is attached to the shaft element in a securely bonded and sealed fashion. The intrarectal balloon communicates with the at least one lumen via a perforation in the wall of the shaft element and can be acted on with a filling medium via the lumen. An anchoring element serves as a buttress, which is attached to the shaft element spaced apart from the intrarectal balloon on its proximal side, in the direction toward the proximal end of the shaft element.

Abstract: Tracheal ventilation device, particularly a tracheal tube, which seals the trachea in a substantially air-tight manner. The device includes a cuff that blocks the trachea below the glottis and is traversed by a ventilation cannula. The cuff is larger in its filled, freely displaceable, unrestricted state than in its filled state positioned in the trachea. The cuff is of a flexible soft film material and lies against the trachea by means of its folds. The device is adapted to the morphology of a child's larynx and is available in finely graded sizes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling the breathing gas flow of a ventilator for assisted or controlled ventilation of a patient as a function of the tracheobronchial airway pressure of the patient, having a ventilator tube, such as a tracheal tube or tracheostomy tube, that can be introduced into the trachea or the patient and subjected to the breathing gas and that is equipped with an inflatable cuff and at least one lumen that is continuous from the distal end of the tube to the proximal end of the tube, and with an apparatus for detecting the airway pressure, in which the tracheobronchial airway pressure is ascertained by continuous or intermittent detection and evaluation of the intra-cuff pressure prevailing in the cuff of the tube inserted into the trachea, and the breathing gas flow of the ventilator is controlled as a function of the intra-cuff pressure detected.