Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for repairing heart valves through percutaneous transcatheter delivery and fixation of annuloplasty rings to heart valves. An annuloplasty ring includes an outer hollow body member including a plurality of regions. Adjacent regions cooperate with one another to change the body member from an elongate insertion geometry to an annular operable geometry. Adjacent regions are coupled by a biasing element or a stepped connector to allow expansion to an expanded state and contraction to a contracted state in the annular operable geometry. The annuloplasty ring also includes an internal anchor member located at least partially within the body member and having a plurality of anchors configured to attach the annuloplasty ring to tissue of a heart valve annulus. An angled ring closure lock allows coupling of the ends of an annuloplasty ring at an apex of a D-shape annular operable geometry.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for repairing heart valves through percutaneous transcatheter delivery and fixation of annuloplasty rings to heart valves. An annuloplasty ring includes an outer hollow body member including a plurality of regions. Adjacent regions cooperate with one another to change the body member from an elongate insertion geometry to an annular operable geometry. Adjacent regions are coupled by a biasing element or a stepped connector to allow expansion to an expanded state and contraction to a contracted state in the annular operable geometry. The annuloplasty ring also includes an internal anchor member located at least partially within the body member and having a plurality of anchors configured to attach the annuloplasty ring to tissue of a heart valve annulus. An angled ring closure lock allows coupling of the ends of an annuloplasty ring at an apex of a D-shape annular operable geometry.

Abstract: An inflated implant, such as an attenuation device, previously implanted in a urinary bladder can later be removed according to a number of different methods. Preferably, removal is accomplished transurethrally. In one embodiment, removal is accomplished by reducing the inflated implant from an enlarged profile to a reduced profile so that it may be withdrawn transurethrally by a removal system. The removal system can be configured differently depending upon whether reduction from the enlarged profile to the reduced profile is accomplished by deflation, compression, and/or other ways.

Abstract: An inflated implant, such as an attenuation device, previously implanted in a urinary bladder can later be removed according to a number of different methods. Preferably, removal is accomplished transurethrally. In one embodiment, removal is accomplished by reducing the inflated implant from an enlarged profile to a reduced profile so that it may be withdrawn transurethrally by a removal system. The removal system can be configured differently depending upon whether reduction from the enlarged profile to the reduced profile is accomplished by deflation, compression, and/or other ways.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for repairing heart valves through percutaneous transcatheter delivery and fixation of annuloplasty rings to heart valves. An annuloplasty ring includes an outer hollow body member including a plurality of regions. Adjacent regions cooperate with one another to change the body member from an elongate insertion geometry to an annular operable geometry. Adjacent regions are coupled by a biasing element or a stepped connector to allow expansion to an expanded state and contraction to a contracted state in the annular operable geometry. The annuloplasty ring also includes an internal anchor member located at least partially within the body member and having a plurality of anchors configured to attach the annuloplasty ring to tissue of a heart valve annulus. An angled ring closure lock allows coupling of the ends of an annuloplasty ring at an apex of a D-shape annular operable geometry.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for repairing heart valves through percutaneous transcatheter delivery and fixation of annuloplasty rings to heart valves. An annuloplasty ring includes an outer hollow body member including a plurality of regions. Adjacent regions cooperate with one another to change the body member from an elongate insertion geometry to an annular operable geometry. Adjacent regions are coupled by a biasing element or a stepped connector to allow expansion to an expanded state and contraction to a contracted state in the annular operable geometry. The annuloplasty ring also includes an internal anchor member located at least partially within the body member and having a plurality of anchors configured to attach the annuloplasty ring to tissue of a heart valve annulus. An angled ring closure lock allows coupling of the ends of an annuloplasty ring at an apex of a D-shape annular operable geometry.

Abstract: An inflated implant, such as an attenuation device, previously implanted in a urinary bladder can later be removed according to a number of different methods. Preferably, removal is accomplished transurethrally. In one embodiment, removal is accomplished by reducing the inflated implant from an enlarged profile to a reduced profile so that it may be withdrawn transurethrally by a removal system. The removal system can be configured differently depending upon whether reduction from the enlarged profile to the reduced profile is accomplished by deflation, compression, and/or other ways.

Abstract: An inflated implant, such as an attenuation device, previously implanted in a urinary bladder can later be removed according to a number of different methods. Preferably, removal is accomplished transurethrally. In one embodiment, removal is accomplished by reducing the inflated implant from an enlarged profile to a reduced profile so that it may be withdrawn transurethrally by a removal system. The removal system can be configured differently depending upon whether reduction from the enlarged profile to the reduced profile is accomplished by deflation, compression, and/or other ways.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for repairing heart valves through percutaneous transcatheter delivery and fixation of annuloplasty rings to heart valves. An annuloplasty ring includes an outer hollow member including a plurality of segments. Adjacent segments cooperate with one another to change the outer hollow member from an elongate insertion geometry to an annular operable geometry. The annuloplasty ring also includes an internal anchor member located at least partially within the outer hollow member. The internal anchor member includes a plurality of anchors configured to attach the annuloplasty ring to tissue of a heart valve annulus. The internal anchor member is configured to move the plurality of anchors with respect to a plurality of windows in the outer hollow member to selectively deploy the plurality of anchors through the respective windows.

Abstract: An inflated implant, such as an attenuation device, previously implanted in a urinary bladder can later be removed according to a number of different methods. Preferably, removal is accomplished transurethrally. Removal can be accomplished by reducing the inflated implant from an enlarged profile to a reduced profile so that it may be withdrawn transurethrally by a removal system. The removal system can be configured differently depending upon whether reduction from the enlarged profile to the reduced profile is accomplished by deflation, compression, and/or other ways.

Abstract: An inflated implant, such as an attenuation device, previously implanted in a urinary bladder can later be removed according to a number of different methods. Preferably, removal is accomplished transurethrally. In one embodiment, removal is accomplished by reducing the inflated implant from an enlarged profile to a reduced profile so that it may be withdrawn transurethrally by a removal system. The removal system can be configured differently depending upon whether reduction from the enlarged profile to the reduced profile is accomplished by deflation, compression, and/or other ways.

Abstract: Measurement of a patient's leak point pressure in the bladder can be taken by a processor in communication with a pressure catheter in the bladder. When leakage occurs pressure data points can be recorded. In some embodiments, the peak pressure can be determined based on pressure data points measured during a set time just before receiving a clinician input indicative that leakage has occurred.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for repairing heart valves through percutaneous transcatheter delivery and fixation of annuloplasty rings to heart valves. An annuloplasty ring includes an outer hollow member including a plurality of segments. Adjacent segments cooperate with one another to change the outer hollow member from an elongate insertion geometry to an annular operable geometry. The annuloplasty ring also includes an internal anchor member located at least partially within the outer hollow member. The internal anchor member includes a plurality of anchors configured to attach the annuloplasty ring to tissue of a heart valve annulus. The internal anchor member is configured to move the plurality of anchors with respect to a plurality of windows in the outer hollow member to selectively deploy the plurality of anchors through the respective windows.

Abstract: Measurement of a patient's leak point pressure in the bladder can be taken by a processor in communication with a pressure catheter in the bladder. When leakage occurs pressure data points can be recorded. In some embodiments, the peak pressure can be determined based on pressure data points measured during a set time just before receiving a clinician input indicative that leakage has occurred.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for repairing heart valves through percutaneous transcatheter delivery and fixation of annuloplasty rings to heart valves. An annuloplasty ring includes an outer hollow member including a plurality of segments. Adjacent segments cooperate with one another to change the outer hollow member from an elongate insertion geometry to an annular operable geometry. The annuloplasty ring also includes an internal anchor member located at least partially within the outer hollow member. The internal anchor member includes a plurality of anchors configured to attach the annuloplasty ring to tissue of a heart valve annulus. The internal anchor member is configured to move the plurality of anchors with respect to a plurality of windows in the outer hollow member to selectively deploy the plurality of anchors through the respective windows.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of treating a patient with benign hypertrophy of the prostate, comprising providing a compressible attenuation device that is moveable from a first, introduction configuration to a second, implanted configuration and attenuating a pressure change within the bladder by reversibly changing the volume of the attenuation device in response to the pressure change. In one embodiment, the attenuation device is advanced percutaneously into the bladder. In another embodiment, the attenuation device is positioned within the bladder to inhibit a decrease in compliance of the bladder wall as a consequence of the benign hypertrophy of the prostate.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for repairing heart valves through percutaneous transcatheter delivery and fixation of annuloplasty rings to heart valves. An annuloplasty ring includes an outer hollow member including a plurality of segments. Adjacent segments cooperate with one another to change the outer hollow member from an elongate insertion geometry to an annular operable geometry. The annuloplasty ring also includes an internal anchor member located at least partially within the outer hollow member. The internal anchor member includes a plurality of anchors configured to attach the annuloplasty ring to tissue of a heart valve annulus. The internal anchor member is configured to move the plurality of anchors with respect to a plurality of windows in the outer hollow member to selectively deploy the plurality of anchors through the respective windows.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an attenuation device, comprising a flexible housing and a high vapor pressure media having a permeability of less than 1 ml/day at body temperature through the outer wall of the flexible housing. In one embodiment, the high vapor pressure media comprises perfluorooctylbromide. In another embodiment, the high vapor pressure media comprises perfluorohexane. In yet another embodiment, the high vapor pressure media comprises perfluorodecalin. Also disclosed herein is a method of treating a patient, comprising providing a compressible attenuation device and introducing within the attenuation device at least one high vapor pressure media.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of treating a patient with benign hypertrophy of the prostate, comprising providing a compressible attenuation device that is moveable from a first, introduction configuration to a second, implanted configuration and attenuating a pressure change within the bladder by reversibly changing the volume of the attenuation device in response to the pressure change. In one embodiment, the attenuation device is advanced percutaneously into the bladder. In another embodiment, the attenuation device is positioned within the bladder to inhibit a decrease in compliance of the bladder wall as a consequence of the benign hypertrophy of the prostate.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an attenuation device comprising a flexible housing and a medium capable of transformation to inflate the housing from the first configuration to the second configuration. Also disclose herein are methods of treating a patient, comprising: providing a self-inflating expandable attenuation device, containing a medium which is transformable from a first, reduced volume to a second, expanded volume; positioning the attenuation device within the patient at a treatment site; and transforming the medium from the first volume to the second volume. In one embodiment, a self-inflating expandable attenuation device is used to treat glaucoma.