Abstract: A device for inducing weight loss in a patient includes a tubular prosthesis self-expandable from a collapsed position in which the prosthesis has a first diameter to an expanded position in which the prosthesis has a second, larger, diameter. In a method for inducing weight loss, the prosthesis is placed in the collapsed position and inserted into a stomach of a patient. The prosthesis is allowed to self-expand from the collapsed position to the expanded position and into contact with the walls of the stomach, where it induces feelings of satiety and/or inhibits modulation of satiety-controlling factors such as Ghrelin.

Abstract: A device for inducing weight loss in a patient includes a tubular prosthesis self-expandable from a collapsed position in which the prosthesis has a first diameter to an expanded position in which the prosthesis has a second, larger, diameter. In a method for inducing weight loss, the prosthesis is placed in the collapsed position and inserted into a stomach of a patient. The prosthesis is allowed to self-expand from the collapsed position to the expanded position and into contact with the walls of the stomach, where it induces feelings of satiety and/or inhibits modulation of satiety-controlling factors such as Ghrelin.

Abstract: A device for inducing weight loss in a patient includes a tubular prosthesis self-expandable from a collapsed position in which the prosthesis has a first diameter to an expanded position in which the prosthesis has a second, larger, diameter. In a method for inducing weight loss, the prosthesis is placed in the collapsed position and inserted into a stomach of a patient. The prosthesis is allowed to self-expand from the collapsed position to the expanded position and into contact with the walls of the stomach, where it induces feelings of satiety and/or inhibits modulation of satiety-controlling factors such as Ghrelin.

Abstract: A device for inducing weight loss in a patient includes a tubular prosthesis self-expandable from a collapsed position in which the prosthesis has a first diameter to an expanded position in which the prosthesis has a second, larger, diameter. In a method for inducing weight loss, the prosthesis is placed in the collapsed position and inserted into a stomach of a patient. The prosthesis is allowed to self-expand from the collapsed position to the expanded position and into contact with the walls of the stomach, where it induces feelings of satiety and/or inhibits modulation of satiety-controlling factors such as Ghrelin.

Abstract: A device for inducing weight loss in a patient includes a tubular prosthesis self-expandable from a collapsed position in which the prosthesis has a first diameter to an expanded position in which the prosthesis has a second, larger, diameter. In a method for inducing weight loss, the prosthesis is placed in the collapsed position and inserted into a stomach of a patient. The prosthesis is allowed to self-expand from the collapsed position to the expanded position and into contact with the walls of the stomach, where it induces feelings of satiety and/or inhibits modulation of satiety-controlling factors such as Ghrelin.

Abstract: A device for inducing weight loss in a patient includes a tubular prosthesis self-expandable from a collapsed position in which the prosthesis has a first diameter to an expanded position in which the prosthesis has a second, larger, diameter. In a method for inducing weight loss, the prosthesis is placed in the collapsed position and inserted into a stomach of a patient. The prosthesis is allowed to self-expand from the collapsed position to the expanded position and into contact with the walls of the stomach, where it induces feelings of satiety and/or inhibits modulation of satiety-controlling factors such as Ghrelin.

Abstract: Systems and methods for locating and defining a target location within a human body. The system can include at least one marker, a probe, and a detector for use in locating the markers by providing information to a surgeon that is representative of changes in proximity between the probe and the marker. The marker can have various detection characteristics, e.g., gamma radiation, that are detectable by an associated probe and detector. The tissue volume is removed by manipulating a cutting tool based on the proximity information provided by the detector, which can be used by the surgeon to define the boundary of the tissue volume. The systems and methods of the invention are particularly useful in locating and then removing a tissue volume or other target location from amorphous, pliable tissue (e.g., breast tissue) or other body parts.

Abstract: A system and method places a percutaneous gastrostomy device into a body cavity of a patient using a magnetic gastrostomy tube and a medical detection sensing device. The magnetic gastrostomy tube has a ferromagnetic element attached to its distal end. Various embodiments allow a needle to be passed from the magnetic detection sensing device outside the patient toward a magnetic gastrostomy tube inside the patient or, alternatively, from the magnetic gastrostomy tube inside the patient toward the magnetic detection sensing device outside the patient. After a needle makes a hole between the outside of the patient and the body cavity, a medical wire may be passed through the hole, and the medical wire can then be used to place the percutaneous gastrostomy device.

Abstract: A percutaneous treatment catheter comprises a canopy (12) having a treatment side adapted to provide at least one of a variety of treatments to a first tissue layer and a protection side that protects adjacent tissue from the treatment. Treatments include, but are not limited to, those that act to cause an inflammatory response resulting in forming scar tissue that would tend to form adhesions, such as, but not limited to, for the treatment of pleural effusions. In an embodiment, a treatment catheter comprises a shaft (20) having a shaft and a treatment head (10) disposed about the shaft distal end, the treatment head adapted to present a low profile in a closed state and a broad profile in a 10 deployed state, the treatment head adapted to percutaneously treat one of first and second tissue layers and protect the other of the first and second tissue layers from the treatment.

Abstract: Systems and methods for sealing a vascular opening such as an arteriotomy formed during a femoral artery catheterization procedure are described. The blood vessel is transiently occluded during application of therapeutic energy, such as high intensity focused ultrasound. The occlusion improves the efficiency of the therapy without causing damage to the blood vessel. Also described are methods for locating the arteriotomy, aligning the therapeutic applicator to the arteriotomy, and a station keeping procedure for maintaining alignment.

Abstract: A prosthetic device is described that is positionable within the gastro-esophageal junction region of a patient. The prosthetic device includes a proximal opening and a distal orifice that is adjustable in size prior to and/or following implantation. During use, the prosthetic device is attached to tissue of the gastro-esophageal junction region of the patient, with the device positioned such that food ingested by the patient passes from the esophagus through the proximal opening into the interior of the prosthetic device, and eventually exits the prosthetic device via the distal opening.

Abstract: A device for inducing weight loss in a patient includes a tubular prosthesis self-expandable from a collapsed position in which the prosthesis has a first diameter to an expanded position in which the prosthesis has a second, larger, diameter. In a method for inducing weight loss, the prosthesis is placed in the collapsed position and inserted into a stomach of a patient. The prosthesis is allowed to self-expand from the collapsed position to the expanded position and into contact with the walls of the stomach, where it induces feelings of satiety and/or inhibits modulation of satiety-controlling factors such as Ghrelin.

Abstract: Systems and methods for locating and defining a target location within a human body. The system can include at least one marker, a probe, and a detector for use in locating the markers by providing information to a surgeon that is representative of changes in proximity between the probe and the marker. The marker can have various detection characteristics, e.g., gamma radiation, that are detectable by an associated probe and detector. The tissue volume is removed by manipulating a cutting tool based on the proximity information provided by the detector, which can be used by the surgeon to define the boundary of the tissue volume. The systems and methods of the invention are particularly useful in locating and then removing a tissue volume or other target location from amorphous, pliable tissue (e.g., breast tissue) or other body parts.

Abstract: Systems and methods for locating and defining a target location within a human body. The system can include at least one marker, a probe, and a detector for use in locating the markers by providing information to a surgeon that is representative of changes in proximity between the probe and the marker. The marker can have various detection characteristics, e.g., gamma radiation, that are detectable by an associated probe and detector. The tissue volume is removed by manipulating a cutting tool based on the proximity information provided by the detector, which can be used by the surgeon to define the boundary of the tissue volume. The systems and methods of the invention are particularly useful in locating and then removing a tissue volume or other target location from amorphous, pliable tissue (e.g., breast tissue) or other body parts.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing a patient is carried out by delivering an aerosolized dose of a radioactive formulation to a patient and making a ventilation image of radioactive material deposited in the lung. This image is compared with a separately generated image (perfusion image) taken after injecting radiolabled particles into the pulmonary arterial circulation. Devices, packaging and methodology for creating aerosols are provided which allow for efficient and repeatable delivery of radioaerosols to the lungs of a patient. Devices may be plug-in units or hand-held, self-contained units which are automatically actuated at the same release point in a patient's inspiratory flow cycle. The device is loaded with a container of a radioactive formulation such as .sup.99m Tc-labelled diethylene-triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA). Actuation of the device forces the radioactive formulation through a porous membrane of the container which membrane has pores having a diameter in the range of about 0.25 to 6.0 microns.

Abstract: Night driving eyeglasses include an illuminating color band extending upwardly from the bottom of the lens to cover about 50 per cent to about 75 per cent of the surface area of the lens and a glare-reducing color band extending downwardly from the top of the lens to cover about 25 per cent to about 50 per cent of the surface area of the lens, with a distinct interface between the color bands. The glasses further include a nonreflective coating made from a plurality of layers of magnesium oxide selectively applied to a surface of the lenses of the glasses. Preferably, the distinct interface is located about 5 mm above the top of the wearer's pupil. The color bands and the nonreflective coating all cooperate to equalize the illumination of the wearer's entire field of vision.