Abstract: Various surgical introducer needle and anchor systems are provided. The systems can include an introducer needle and a tissue support implant or sling device. The implant device can include one or more anchoring devices. The introducer needle device can include a handle assembly and a needle assembly. The needle assembly can include a generally hollow needle, and a wire traversable therein. The wire can include a distal tip adapted to selectively retract or withdraw from the engaged anchoring device upon deployment of the anchor and/or implant.

Abstract: Various surgical introducer needle and anchor systems are provided. The systems can include an introducer needle and a tissue support implant or sling device. The implant device can include one or more anchoring devices. The introducer needle device can include a handle assembly and a needle assembly. The needle assembly can include a generally hollow needle, and a wire traversable therein. The wire can include a distal tip adapted to selectively retract or withdraw from the engaged anchoring device upon deployment of the anchor and/or implant.

Abstract: Various surgical introducer needle and anchor systems are provided. The systems can include an introducer needle and a tissue support implant or sling device. The implant device can include one or more anchoring devices. The introducer needle device can include a handle assembly and a needle assembly. The needle assembly can include a generally hollow needle, and a wire traversable therein. The wire can include a distal tip adapted to selectively retract or withdraw from the engaged anchoring device upon deployment of the anchor and/or implant.

Abstract: Various surgical introducer needle and anchor systems are provided. The systems can include an introducer needle and a tissue support implant or sling device. The implant device can include one or more anchoring devices. The introducer needle device can include a handle assembly and a needle assembly. The needle assembly can include a generally hollow needle, and a wire traversable therein. The wire can include a distal tip adapted to selectively retract or withdraw from the engaged anchoring device upon deployment of the anchor and/or implant.

Abstract: Described are implants and tools for use in treating pelvic conditions such as incontinence, including urinary incontinence in a male or female, for example an incontinence sling and delivery system that can include a sling implant and delivery tool system, wherein the implant can include a mesh sling and one or more anchors provided at or extending from a portion of the sling to facilitate tissue fixation; the delivery tool system can include at least a tunneler having a lumen, and an insertion tool; and wherein useful methods can involve inserting the tunneler through an incision and into a pelvic region of a patient, connecting the insertion tool to the sling, and inserting the sling into the tunneler to place the sling to provide tissue support.

Abstract: Described are methods and devices relating to anastomosis procedures, including those that reconnect the urethra and bladder after a radical prostatectomy, wherein the devices incorporate tissue approximating structure to maintain contact between tissues for healing the tissues together.

Abstract: Various surgical introducer needle and anchor systems are provided. The systems can include an introducer needle and a tissue support implant or sling device. The implant device can include one or more anchoring devices. The introducer needle device can include a handle assembly and a needle assembly. The needle assembly can include a generally hollow needle, and a wire traversable therein. The wire can include a distal tip adapted to selectively retract or withdraw from the engaged anchoring device upon deployment of the anchor and/or implant.

Abstract: Various surgical introducer needle and anchor systems are provided. The systems can include an introducer needle and a tissue support implant or sling device. The implant device can include one or more anchoring devices. The introducer needle device can include a handle assembly and a needle assembly. The needle assembly can include a generally hollow needle, and a wire traversable therein. The wire can include a distal tip adapted to selectively retract or withdraw from the engaged anchoring device upon deployment of the anchor and/or implant.

Abstract: Described are methods and devices relating to reconnecting the urethra and bladder after a radical prostatectomy, wherein the devices incorporate tissue approximating structure to maintain contact between a severed bladder neck tissue and a severed urethral stump tissue, preferably without the use of sutures.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for using an anastomosis device to repair severed tissues resulting from a surgical medical procedure such as a radical prostatectomy, ilio-orthotopic neobladder construction, cystoprostatectomy, cystectomy, urethral anastomosis, or ureteral anastomosis.

Abstract: The tissue approximating structures for the anastomosis devices of the invention preferably include two sets of approximating structures or tines spaced from each other along the length of a catheter body that can be extended and retracted from the catheter body. Each of the sets of tissue approximating structures is preferably sequentially deployable in such a way that the surgeon can activate a first set of tines to engage a first tissue structure, verify that an adjacent second tissue structure is properly positioned relative to the first tissue structure, then activate a second set of tines to engage that adjacent second tissue structure. Each of the sets of tines is preferably controlled by a single actuation mechanism that is attached to the anastomosis device and is positioned outside the patient's body.

Abstract: Described are methods and devices relating to reconnecting tissue of the urethra, e.g., connecting the urethra and bladder after a radical prostatectomy, wherein the devices incorporate tissue approximating structure such as tines to maintain contact between severed tissue, such as a severed bladder neck tissue and a severed urethral stump tissue, preferably without the use of sutures.

Abstract: Described are implants and tools for use in treating pelvic conditions such as incontinence, including urinary incontinence in a male or female, for example an incontinence sling and delivery system that can include a sling implant and delivery tool system, wherein the implant can include a mesh sling and one or more anchors provided at or extending from a portion of the sling to facilitate tissue fixation; the delivery tool system can include at least a tunneler having a lumen, and an insertion tool; and wherein useful methods can involve inserting the tunneler through an incision and into a pelvic region of a patient, connecting the insertion tool to the sling, and inserting the sling into the tunneler to place the sling to provide tissue support.

Abstract: Described are methods and devices relating to reconnecting the urethra and bladder after a radical prostatectomy, wherein the devices incorporate tissue approximating structure to maintain contact between a severed bladder neck tissue and a severed urethral stump tissue, preferably without the use of sutures.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for tailoring the radiation intensity about a radiation source, enabling affected zones of a cancerous tissue mass to receive full radiation dosage while limiting the exposure of unaffected regions where radiation exposure is not desired. The assembly includes a radiation attenuator partially covering the outer periphery of a delivery portion of a high dosage radiation catheter, thereby altering the radiation profile that exits the assembly. A method for treating a cancer affected tissue mass includes inserting a plurality of said catheters into a tissue mass about the center of mass and orienting said catheter so that said the maximum radiation intensity is facing substantially toward the center of mass. The radiation source is allowed to dwell in the catheter for a prescribed period of time to deliver the desired dosage of radiation. The radiation source is then removed from the catheter.

Abstract: A surgical tool including an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end, first and second sets of tissue approximating structures having deployed and retracted positions relative to the elongated body, an actuating mechanism at the proximal end of the elongated body for independently deploying and retracting each of the first and second sets of tissue approximating structures, and a drainage lumen extending from a drainage aperture at the distal end of the elongated body to the proximal end. The tool further includes a main balloon adjacent to the distal end of the elongated body, and a second balloon spaced from the main balloon toward the proximal end of the elongated body, wherein the second balloon has an expanded condition in which it diverts one of the set of tissue approximating structures away from the main balloon.

Abstract: A surgical tool which comprises an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end, first and second sets of tissue approximating structures having deployed and retracted positions relative to the elongated body, an actuating mechanism extending from the proximal end of the elongated body for independently deploying and retracting each of the first and second sets of tissue approximating structures, a drainage lumen extending from a drainage aperture at the distal end of the elongated body to the proximal end, a main balloon adjacent to the distal end of the elongated body, and a strap connector extending from the elongated body that is connectable with a stabilization strap.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for using an anastomosis device to repair severed tissues resulting from a surgical medical procedure such as a radical prostatectomy, ilio-orthotopic neobladder construction, cystoprostatectomy, cystectomy, urethral anastomosis, or ureteral anastomosis.

Abstract: An anastomosis surgical device comprising an elongate body having a drainage aperture at a distal end for communication with a proximal end of the elongate body, tissue approximating structure extendable from the elongate body and spaced proximally from the drainage aperture along the length of the elongate body. The device further includes an actuating mechanism extending from the proximal end of the elongate body and comprising at least one tissue approximating structure control mechanism, and a protective enclosure surrounding at least a portion of the actuating mechanism.

Abstract: An improved catheter design and related methods providing for a sensor disposed within a sensor lumen to provide detection and warning of instruments placed within the proximity of various anatomical structures. The sensor lumen can extend axially the length of a drainage lumen. The sensor or sensors should be able to provide detection warnings for the entire region. The sensor will activate a visual sensor, for example, an LED, an audible sensor, for example, a siren, or similar type alert notification systems. The detecting and indicating means can generate an indicator signal indicative of the presence and/or absence of the instrument in the lumen, and generally provides feedback to the surgeon.