Abstract: A medical device and method are disclosed which can facilitate maintenance work of a filter for capturing a capturing target, and which can improve operability or convenience in the maintenance work. The medical device has an accommodation unit, an impeller holding unit, and a filter. The accommodation unit accommodates a capturing target which is present inside a living body. The impeller holding unit includes an impeller which causes a fluid to flow from a distal side toward a proximal side inside the living body so as to cause the accommodation unit to aspirate the capturing target together with the fluid. Here, the impeller holding unit is configured to be attachable to and detachable from the accommodation unit on a proximal side of the accommodation unit. The filter is arranged in the accommodation unit and/or the impeller holding unit, and captures at last one or more of the capturing target.

Abstract: A method involves introducing a gathering part into a lumen in an ureteral access sheath in which is located calculus, wherein at least a part of the ureteral access sheath is located in an ureter in a living body. The gathering part is moved along the lumen in the ureteral access sheath in a forward direction toward the calculus, and then movement of the gathering part in the forward direction is stopped to position the gathering part adjacent the calculus so that the calculus is positioned between the distal end of the ureteral access sheath and the gathering part. The gathering part is expanded while the gathering part is positioned adjacent the calculus, and the calculus is then introduced into the gathering part.

Abstract: A medical device and method are disclosed, which can sufficiently capture a capturing target even if a lumen is deformed. A medical device has an accommodation unit and an impeller holding unit. The accommodation unit includes a lumen which accommodates a capturing target present inside a living body, in which a shape of at least a portion on a distal side is deformable, and whose inner surface before and after deformation is configured to be flat as a whole, a distal opening portion and a proximal opening portion which respectively communicate with the lumen, and a filter for capturing at least one or more of the capturing targets. The impeller holding unit includes an impeller which causes a fluid to flow from the distal opening portion toward the proximal opening portion inside the living body so as to allow the lumen to aspirate the capturing target together with the fluid.

Abstract: A device (100) for measuring the amount of water in a subject's body includes a main body part (110) formed in a linear shape and an insertion part (120) extending in a curved shape from one end of the main body part (100). The insertion part (120) includes a tip side insertion part (120-2) having a tip surface (122) to which a sensor unit (121) is fixed and a base end side insertion part (120-1), wherein the sensor unit (121) is brought into contact with a body surface of a subject through a slide mechanism. A protective member (651) liquid-tightly covers the slide mechanism between the tip side insertion part (120-2) and a base end side insertion part (120-1). The protective member (651) smoothly connects the outer peripheral surface of the tip side insertion part (120-2) and the outer peripheral surface of the base end side insertion part (120-1).

Abstract: A method involves positioning a housing in an ureteral access sheath that is positioned in a lumen in a living body, moving the housing toward calculus located in the ureteral access sheath, positioning the housing in the ureteral access sheath adjacent the calculus in the ureteral access sheath, drawing the calculus in the ureteral access sheath through the inlet and into the housing by suction in the interior of the housing, and removing the housing from the ureteral access sheath while the calculus remains in the housing.

Abstract: A device for retrieving calculus in a lumen of a living body includes an elongated member possessing an outer dimension configured to be positioned in the lumen of the living body, wherein the tubular body includes an inlet, an outlet and a retrieval space in the interior at a position between the inlet and the outlet. A foldable sealing member is positioned in the tubular body interior and is axially movable in distal and proximal directions, and a plunger is connected to the sealing member so that axial movement of the plunger axially moves the sealing member in the interior of the tubular body. The foldable sealing member is folded into a folded configuration when the plunger is axially moved in a distal direction toward the inlet and being spread out in a spread-out configuration when the plunger is axially moved in a proximal direction away from the inlet.

Abstract: A method of retrieving calculus in a renal pelvis of a living body involves positioning an enclosure in the renal pelvis, creating convection in the renal pelvis by introducing liquid into the renal pelvis from outside the living body to lift the calculus from a surface of the renal pelvis, retrieving the calculus in the renal pelvis by creating a vacuum in the enclosure while the enclosure is located in the renal pelvis so that the calculus are drawn into the enclosure, wherein the vacuum also draws the liquid into the enclosure, and withdrawing the enclosure from the renal pelvis while the calculus is in the enclosure.

Abstract: A method of expanding a narrowed region inside a living body involves positioning a liquid introducer in the narrowed region in the living body and introducing liquid into the narrowed region by way of the liquid introducer. The liquid applies an outwardly directed force on the narrowed region to expand the narrowed region. The narrowed region includes the renal pelvis, the entrance to the lower calix, the ureter, etc.

Abstract: A method involves introducing a raking part into a lumen in an ureteral access sheath in which is located calculus, wherein the raking part is introduced into the ureteral access sheath while at least a part of the ureteral access sheath is located in a living body. The raking part is moved in the ureteral access sheath toward the calculus and is positioned beyond the calculus. The lumen in the ureteral access sheath is at least partially occluded by way of the raking part. After at least partially occluding the lumen in the ureteral access sheath by way of the raking part, the raking part is moved along the lumen in the ureteral access sheath in a direction opposite the first direction so that the raking part rakes out the calculus.

Abstract: A method of moving a device toward a target site in a living body involves introducing an endoscope into the living body, wherein the endoscope has an instrument channel, with the device located at the distal end of the endoscope, and an elongated shaft connected to the device and positioned in the instrument channel. The method includes moving the endoscope and the device within the living body toward the target site, changing the shape of the elongated shaft while moving the device in the living body, and moving the device within the living body while the device is in the second orientation to position the device in the second orientation at the target site.

Abstract: A calculus removing device includes an elongated member and a retrieval part fixed to the elongated member. A discharge force is produced in a lumen in the elongated member to discharge fluid in the lumen into the renal pelvis, and a suction force is produced in the lumen to draw fluid into the lumen from the renal pelvis. An outlet communicates with the lumen, and fluid in the lumen is discharged into the renal pelvis through the outlet in the presence of the discharge force. An inlet communicates with the lumen, and fluid in the renal pelvis is drawn into the lumen through the inlet in the presence of the suction force. The retrieval part includes an interior that communicates with the lumen and the renal pelvis, and the interior is configured to receive the calculus in the renal pelvis in the presence of the suction force.

Abstract: A device for retrieving calculus in a lumen of a living body includes an elongated member positionable in the living body lumen and including an inlet, an outlet and a retrieval space between the inlet and the outlet, and a sealing member movably positioned in the lumen of the elongated member to axially move in distal and proximal directions, wherein the sealing member is in sealing contact with the inner surface of the lumen in the elongated member. A plunger is connected to the sealing member and includes two parts separated from one another to form a divided sealing member when the plunger is moved in the distal direction and that directly contact one another to form an integrated sealing member when the plunger is moved in the proximal direction to draw fluid and the calculus into the retrieval space.

Abstract: A method of retrieving calculus in a renal pelvis of a living body involves positioning an enclosure in the renal pelvis, creating convection in the renal pelvis by introducing liquid into the renal pelvis from outside the living body to lift the calculus from a surface of the renal pelvis, retrieving the calculus in the renal pelvis by creating a vacuum in the enclosure while the enclosure is located in the renal pelvis so that the calculus are drawn into the enclosure, wherein the vacuum also draws the liquid into the enclosure, and withdrawing the enclosure from the renal pelvis while the calculus is in the enclosure.

Abstract: A method of removing/retrieving calculus in a ureteral lumen involves moving a ureteral plug part along the ureter lumen to position the ureteral plug part between the calculus and the kidney. The method additionally includes occluding the ureteral lumen at a location at which the ureteral plug part is located, and introducing fluid into the ureter lumen at a point between the location of the occlusion and the calculus so that the fluid washes the calculus toward the bladder. Another aspect involves a method in which an drainage tube is positioned in the ureteral lumen so that a ureteral plug part and an irrigation port are positioned distally of the calculus while an operation part of the drainage tube is positioned proximally of the calculus. The method includes occluding the ureteral lumen, washing the ureteral lumen, and releasing the occlusion and uncoupling the operation part from the ureteral plug.

Abstract: A method of retrieving calculus includes positioning an elongated member in the lumen of the living body, wherein the elongated member includes a sealing member positioned in the lumen of the elongated member and possessing an outer surface in sealing contact with the inner surface of the lumen of the elongated member. The method also involves proximally moving the sealing member while the outer surface of the sealing member is in contact with the inner surface of the lumen in the elongated member to cause fluid and calculus in the living body to pass through the inlet of the elongated member and be introduced into a retrieval space, discharging at least some of the fluid in the retrieval space out of the retrieval space by way of an outlet, and withdrawing the elongated member from the living body while the calculus in the retrieval space remains in the retrieval space.

Abstract: A calculus retrieving device for retrieving calculus in a renal pelvis includes an elongated member positionable in and movable along a ureter, and having a lumen opening at the distal end of the elongated member. A tubular member is movably positioned inside the elongated member and includes a lumen which opens to a discharge nozzle at a distal end of the tubular member. A space exists between the elongated member and the tubular member to receive a first fluid, and an expandable renal cover part fixed to the elongated member is positionable in the renal pelvis. The renal cover part interior communicates with the space so that the first fluid flows into the renal cover part to expand the renal cover part into covering relation to one part of the renal pelvis while another part of the renal pelvis containing the calculus is not covered by the renal cover part.

Abstract: A method of removing/retrieving calculus in a renal pelvis includes moving a renal cover part along a ureter toward the renal pelvis, introducing the renal cover part into the renal pelvis, positioning the renal cover part in the renal pelvis so that the renal cover part covers one part of the renal pelvis, while an other part of the renal pelvis is not covered by the renal cover part, introducing fluid into the other part of the renal pelvis, while the one part of the renal pelvis is covered by the renal cover part, to cause the calculus in the other part of the renal pelvis to be washed-out of the renal pelvis, and moving the renal cover part out of the renal pelvis and into the ureter.

Abstract: A method involves positioning a housing in an ureteral access sheath that is positioned in a lumen in a living body, moving the housing toward calculus located in the ureteral access sheath, positioning the housing in the ureteral access sheath adjacent the calculus in the ureteral access sheath, drawing the calculus in the ureteral access sheath through the inlet and into the housing by suction in the interior of the housing, and removing the housing from the ureteral access sheath while the calculus remains in the housing.

Abstract: A method of moving a device toward a target site in a living body involves introducing an endoscope into the living body, wherein the endoscope has an instrument channel, with the device located at the distal end of the endoscope, and an elongated shaft connected to the device and positioned in the instrument channel. The method includes moving the endoscope and the device within the living body toward the target site, changing the shape of the elongated shaft while moving the device in the living body, and moving the device within the living body while the device is in the second orientation to position the device in the second orientation at the target site.

Abstract: A method involves introducing a gathering part into a lumen in an ureteral access sheath in which is located calculus, wherein at least a part of the ureteral access sheath is located in an ureter in a living body. The gathering part is moved along the lumen in the ureteral access sheath in a forward direction toward the calculus, and then movement of the gathering part in the forward direction is stopped to position the gathering part adjacent the calculus so that the calculus is positioned between the distal end of the ureteral access sheath and the gathering part. The gathering part is expanded while the gathering part is positioned adjacent the calculus, and the calculus is then introduced into the gathering part.