Abstract: Drug delivery devices and systems, are provided for delivery of a drug into the upper urinary tract of patients in need thereof. The drug delivery devices (100) may be deployed directly into the renal pelvis via a patient's ureter, bladder, and urethra, and the drug delivery devices can be wholly retained therein for local continuous, controlled release of a drug over an extended period.

Abstract: Drug delivery devices are provided in which much of a drug payload within the device remains within an area proximal to a wall of the device through which the drug must pass for release of the drug from the device into a patient. In one case, the device may include a drug reservoir portion which has a drug reservoir lumen bounded by a reservoir wall having an inner surface; a drug located in the drug reservoir lumen; and a core region which does not comprise the drug, wherein the drug is disposed between the inner surface of the reservoir wall and the core region. The device may be elastically deformable between a first shape suited for insertion through a lumen into a body cavity of the patient and a second shape suited to retain the device within the body cavity.

Abstract: Drug delivery devices are provided in which much of a drug payload within the device remains within an area proximal to a wall of the device through which the drug must pass for release of the drug from the device into a patient. In one case, the device may include a drug reservoir portion which has a drug reservoir lumen bounded by a reservoir wall having an inner surface; a drug located in the drug reservoir lumen; and a core region which does not comprise the drug, wherein the drug is disposed between the inner surface of the reservoir wall and the core region. The device may be elastically deformable between a first shape suited for insertion through a lumen into a body cavity of the patient and a second shape suited to retain the device within the body cavity.

Abstract: A urological medical device having a retrieval string is provided. The retrieval string has a proximal end connected the device and an opposed distal end. In a first embodiment, the retrieval string is configured in an initial confined form which, following a period of deployment in a patient's bladder, changes to an unconfined form in which the distal end of the retrieval string is extendible into the urethra to enable extraction of the device from bladder by pulling the retrieval string. The device may include a bioerodible component which permits the retrieval string to take the unconfined form following degradation of the bioerodible component in vivo. In another embodiment, the retrieval string includes a ferromagnetic material, which can be magnetically captured to facilitate removal of the device from the bladder. The ferromagnetic retrieval string may be buoyant in urine.

Abstract: Drug delivery devices include a flexible elongate body having a bladder end portion, a kidney end portion, and a drug lumen extending therebetween; and a drug reservoir which is located at the bladder end portion, contains a drug, and is defined at least in part by a semi-permeable wall. Methods include inserting the device into the ureter of a patient and permitting water in the bladder to diffuse through the semi-permeable wall to create an osmotic pressure to pump the drug through the drug lumen and out of the device at the kidney end portion and into the renal pelvis.

Abstract: Abstract of the Disclosure Drug delivery devices are provided in which much of a drug payload within the device remains within an area proximal to a wall of the device through which the drug must pass for release of the drug from the device into a patient. In one case, the device may include a drug reservoir portion which has a drug reservoir lumen bounded by a reservoir wall having an inner surface; a drug located in the drug reservoir lumen; and a core region which does not comprise the drug, wherein the drug is disposed between the inner surface of the reservoir wall and the core region. The device may be elastically deformable between a first shape suited for insertion through a lumen into a body cavity of the patient and a second shape suited to retain the device within the body cavity.

Abstract: Methods and systems for generating a visualization of a surface of an internal body cavity, such as an internal organ like the bladder, are provided. The approach generally includes inserting an endoscope into an internal body cavity, acquiring a video of the tissue surfaces defining the internal body cavity, stitching video frames together to generate a panoramic map of the tissue surfaces defining the internal body cavity, and displaying the panoramic map.

Abstract: Implant devices for intravesical administration and local drug delivery. The device has a body which includes a hollow tube formed of a biocompatible material; at least one reservoir in the tube which contains a drug; and one or more apertures through which the drug can be released. The device is configured for minimally invasive insertion into a body cavity, such as the bladder. The hollow tube may be elastomeric to permit the device to be elastically deformed from its initial shape into an elongated shape for passage through a catheter, where following such passage the device can return to or toward its initial shape to facilitate retention of the device in the body cavity. The body may have a narrow, elongated shape effective to permit insertion of the drug delivery device through a catheter without necessarily deforming the body, yet include flexible projections which effect retention within the body cavity.

Abstract: Implantable devices and methods for controlled drug delivery are provided. The device includes a device structure deformable between a retention shape and a low profile shape for deployment in the bladder of a patient and has a drug reservoir lumen in which a drug formulation is housed. The device also includes a buoyancy retention portion, which includes a volume of entrapped air or a gas-generating or effervescent powder which will generate a volume of entrapped air following contact with urine in the bladder. The buoyancy retention portion may include a water permeable and/or biodegradable wall, which can release the entrapped air following drug release, to cause the device to sink into the bladder neck to facilitate device expulsion without the need for a device retrieval medical procedure.

Abstract: Drug delivery devices include a flexible elongate body having a bladder end portion, a kidney end portion, and a drug lumen extending therebetween; and a drug reservoir which is located at the bladder end portion, contains a drug, and is defined at least in part by a semi-permeable wall. Methods include inserting the device into the ureter of a patient and permitting water in the bladder to diffuse through the semi-permeable wall to create an osmotic pressure to pump the drug through the drug lumen and out of the device at the kidney end portion and into the renal pelvis.

Abstract: Implantable devices and methods for controlled drug delivery are provided. The device includes a device structure deformable between a retention shape and a low profile shape for deployment in the bladder of a patient and has a drug reservoir lumen in which a drug formulation is housed. The device also includes a buoyancy retention portion, which includes a volume of entrapped air or a gas-generating or effervescent powder which will generate a volume of entrapped air following contact with urine in the bladder. The buoyancy retention portion may include a water permeable and/or biodegradable wall, which can release the entrapped air following drug release, to cause the device to sink into the bladder neck to facilitate device expulsion without the need for a device retrieval medical procedure.

Abstract: Implantable drug delivery devices are provided that are deformable between a relatively straightened shape suitable for deployment and a retention shape suited to retain the device within the bladder or other body cavity. While in the body cavity, the devices release drug from solid drug units housed in the devices. The devices are designed to house the solid drug units in a way that exposes one or more sides of the solid drug units to the fluid at the in vivo site of deployment. Methods for using the devices for administering drug and making the devices also are provided.

Abstract: A urological medical device having a retrieval string is provided. The retrieval string has a proximal end connected the device and an opposed distal end. In a first embodiment, the retrieval string is configured in an initial confined form which, following a period of deployment in a patient's bladder, changes to an unconfined form in which the distal end of the retrieval string is extendible into the urethra to enable extraction of the device from bladder by pulling the retrieval string. The device may include a bioerodible component which permits the retrieval string to take the unconfined form following degradation of the bioerodible component in vivo. In another embodiment, the retrieval string includes a ferromagnetic material, which can be magnetically captured to facilitate removal of the device from the bladder. The ferromagnetic retrieval string may be buoyant in urine.

Abstract: Implant devices for intravesical administration and local drug delivery. The device has a body which includes a hollow tube formed of a biocompatible material; at least one reservoir in the tube which contains a drug; and one or more apertures through which the drug can be released. The device is configured for minimally invasive insertion into a body cavity, such as the bladder. The hollow tube may be elastomeric to permit the device to be elastically deformed from its initial shape into an elongated shape for passage through a catheter, where following such passage the device can return to or toward its initial shape to facilitate retention of the device in the body cavity. The body may have a narrow, elongated shape effective to permit insertion of the drug delivery device through a catheter without necessarily deforming the body, yet include flexible projections which effect retention within the body cavity.

Abstract: Implant devices for intravesical administration and local drug delivery. The device has a body which includes a hollow tube formed of a biocompatible material; at least one reservoir in the tube which contains a drug; and one or more apertures through which the drug can be released. The device is configured for minimally invasive insertion into a body cavity, such as the bladder. The hollow tube may be elastomeric to permit the device to be elastically deformed from its initial shape into an elongated shape for passage through a catheter, where following such passage the device can return to or toward its initial shape to facilitate retention of the device in the body cavity. The body may have a narrow, elongated shape effective to permit insertion of the drug delivery device through a catheter without necessarily deforming the body, yet include flexible projections which effect retention within the body cavity.

Abstract: Implantable drug delivery devices are provided that are deformable between a relatively straightened shape suitable for deployment and a retention shape suited to retain the device within the bladder or other body cavity. While in the body cavity, the devices release drug from solid drug units housed in the devices. The devices are designed to house the solid drug units in a way that exposes one or more sides of the solid drug units to the fluid at the in vivo site of deployment. Methods for using the devices for administering drug and making the devices also are provided.

Abstract: Implant devices for intravesical administration and local drug delivery. The device has a body which includes a hollow tube formed of a biocompatible material; at least one reservoir in the tube which contains a drug; and one or more apertures through which the drug can be released. The device is configured for minimally invasive insertion into a body cavity, such as the bladder. The hollow tube may be elastomeric to permit the device to be elastically deformed from its initial shape into an elongated shape for passage through a catheter, where following such passage the device can return to or toward its initial shape to facilitate retention of the device in the body cavity. The body may have a narrow, elongated shape effective to permit insertion of the drug delivery device through a catheter without necessarily deforming the body, yet include flexible projections which effect retention within the body cavity.

Abstract: Implantable devices and methods for controlled drug delivery are provided. The device includes a device structure deformable between a retention shape and a low profile shape for deployment in the bladder of a patient and has a drug reservoir lumen in which a drug formulation is housed. The device also includes a buoyancy retention portion, which includes a volume of entrapped air or a gas-generating or effervescent powder Which will generate a volume of entrapped air following contact with urine in the bladder. The buoyancy retention portion may include a water permeable and/or biodegradable wall, which can release the entrapped air following drug release, to cause the device to sink into the bladder neck to facilitate device expulsion without the need for a device retrieval medical procedure.

Abstract: Implant devices for intravesical administration and local drug delivery. The device has a body which includes a hollow tube formed of a biocompatible material; at least one reservoir in the tube which contains a drug; and one or more apertures through which the drug can be released. The device is configured for minimally invasive insertion into a body cavity, such as the bladder. The hollow tube may be elastomeric to permit the device to be elastically deformed from its initial shape into an elongated shape for passage through a catheter, where following such passage the device can return to or toward its initial shape to facilitate retention of the device in the body cavity. The body may have a narrow, elongated shape effective to permit insertion of the drug delivery device through a catheter without necessarily deforming the body, yet include flexible projections which effect retention within the body cavity.