Abstract: A flexible cannula is revealed, the cannula useful in graspers for the removal of objects such as stones, calculi, concretions, foreign bodies and the like from the urinary, biliary, vascular or other systems. The flexible cannula is made by removing material in a portion of the cannula near the distal end. The material is preferably removed by laser-cutting the cannula in a spiral pattern, so that material continuity and integrity is maintained, while allowing much greater flexibility. The technique may be used on standard graspers and on laser graspers, and is useful as a part of medical devices, such as ureteroscopes, in which a physician enters a body to remove objects. The flexible cannula may also be used with other devices to cut or spear objects for removal, such as for a biopsy.

Abstract: A back-up retention member drainage catheter (10) for insertion in the bladder and urethra of a patient undergoing a radical prostatectomy surgical procedure. The drainage catheter includes an elongated tubular member (11) having a drainage lumen (14) extending longitudinally therein with an external drainage port (15, 16) disposed near the distal end (12) of the tubular member. A back-up retention member (18) and, in particular, a first balloon (20) is disposed on the elongated tubular member near the distal end and proximal the external drainage port. A primary retention member (19) and, in particular, a second retention balloon (22) is also disposed on the elongated tubular member around the first retention balloon. First and second inflation lumens (21, 23) extend longitudinally through the elongated tubular member and communicate internally with the first and second retention balloons, respectively.

Abstract: A replaceable handle (10) for side loading the proximal end of a medical device (41) therein, which is typically inserted with the operating lumen of an endoscope. The replaceable handle is easily removed from the proximal end of the medical device for removing an endoscope over the medical device. with the endoscope removed, the replaceable handle can side-load the proximal end of the device for added manipulation of the distal end such as in removing a stone from the kidney or ureter leading therefrom. the replaceable handle includes an outer elongated housing (11) with passage (13) extending longitudinally therein with external communication (14) therealong. The outer housing also includes a first attachment mechanism (15) disposed about the distal end for receipt of a first medical device member therein. The handle also includes an inner elongated member (17) positioned in the housing passage and extending proximally therefrom.

Abstract: Ureteral stents are tubes which are placed in the ureter between the bladder and kidney to maintain patency when otherwise due to stone burden, invasive tumor, scarring, or whenever the ureter has become obstructed in order to provide drainage of urine from the kidney to the bladder. In the past, stents of this nature are open ended tubes and may allow for the reflux of urine back into the kidney when there is sufficient buildup of pressure within the bladder. Since urine is generally considered to be sterile when within the body, this is generally not a problem. However, if the patient has a bladder infection and/or pyrogens are present, then urine refluxed into the ureter and kidney may result in the development of sepsis in the patient and cause serious illness and even death. The stent of the present invention has a very specific design and avoids this problem by providing a stent having a closed section, i.e.

Abstract: A surgical retractor, retainer, tensioner, tenaculum, spreader or stabilizer (10) useful in open surgical procedures, or in laparoscopic or other endoscopic procedures, includes a plurality of tissue-engaging elements (12, 14) (such as a plurality of atraumatic hooks (18)) connected by a central elastic member (16). The elastic member (16) is preferably composed of a medical grade rubber, silicone or fluoropolymer elastomer, and is preferably configured or shaped as an O-ring (22) or regular polygon (66, 74, 88, or 92). When the retractor (10) is intended and particularly adapted for use in laparoscopic or other endoscopic procedures, the elastic member (16) is collapsible in a direction transverse to an imaginary line drawn between the plurality of tissue engaging elements (12, 14), so as to allow the retractor (10) to be passed through a surgical cannula into and out of the patient's body during the procedure.

Abstract: An indwelling ureteral stent positioning apparatus is provided for allowing single intrusion placement of a stent in the ureter of a patient. The apparatus is pre-assembled and includes a wire guide with floppy tip. The stent is positioned about the wire guide adjacent to the floppy tip of the wire guide, and is adjustably situated on the wire guide to expose a pre-determined length of the floppy tip for insertion into the patient. The stent is a dual open-ended tubular stent having a resilient retentive curved circular or pigtail shape at each end for retention in the kidney and bladder. A positioner is conveyed on the wire stent until the end of the positioned abuts the anatomically distal end of the stent. A pin-vise clamp abuts the external end of the positioner and releasably engages the wire guide to stabilize the apparatus during insertion. When used to position the stent within the ureter, the apparatus is conveyed along the ureter until the floppy tip is within the renal collecting system.

Abstract: A medical procedure involving direction of the operative end of a medical instrument via observation through a remote small caliber fiber optic bundle disposed through a prepositioned needle lumen.

Abstract: Compositions hardenable by exposure to heat or electromagnetic radiation are provided by dissolving together to form a blend from about 0% to about 50% by weight of an uncrosslinked polymer, from about 2% to about 30% of a polymerizable monomer, from about 10% to about 70% of a crosslinked polymer in the form of discrete particles having average diameters of from 0.001 micron to about 500 microns and being swollen in said solution and from about 20% to about 70% of a crosslinking agent for said monomer. Such compositions exhibit superior chemical and physical characteristics when hardened and are suitable in a wide variety of applications as construction media. Such compositions are especially suitable in the production of prosthetic dental appliances, such as, for example, prosthetic teeth. It is believed that the hardening of such compositions as, for example, during the preparation of dental appliances forms a polymer system known as an interpenetrating polymer network.

Abstract: Compositions hardenable by exposure to heat or electromagnetic radiation are provided by blending from about 0% to about 50% by weight of an uncrosslinked polymer, from about 20% to about 66% of a polymerizable monomer capable of dissolving said polymer, from about 10% to about 70% of a crosslinked polymer in the form of discrete particles having average diameters of from 0.001 micron to about 500 microns and being swellable by said monomer, and from about 0.25% to about 27% of a crosslinking agent for said monomer. Such compositions exhibit superior chemical and physical characteristics when hardened and are suitable in a wide variety of applications as construction media. In accordance with a preferred form of the invention, a precursor blend is formed from a mixture comprising (A) from 13 to 52 weight percent of a crosslinked polymer of an ester of a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl acrylic acid and a C.sub.1 -C.sub.

Abstract: Compositions hardenable by exposure to heat or electromagnetic radiation are provided by blending from about 0% to about 50% by weight of an uncrosslinked polymer, from about 20% to about 66% of a polymerizable monomer capable of dissolving said polymer, from about 10% to about 70% of a crosslinked polymer in the form of discrete particles having average diameters of from 0.001 micron to about 500 microns and being swellable by said monomer, and from about 0.25% to about 27% of a crosslinking agent for said monomer. Such compositions exhibit superior chemical and physical characteristics when hardened and are suitable in a wide variety of applications as construction media. In accordance with a preferred form of the invention, a precursor blend is formed from a mixture comprising (A) from 13 to 52 weight percent of a crosslinked polymer of an ester of a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl acrylic acid and a C.sub.1 -C.sub.