Abstract: Provided are formulations and methods for treating one or more genitourinary conditions. The formulations may include a therapeutic agent that includes a calcium channel blocker, a rho kinase inhibitor, or a combination thereof. The methods may include locally administering a therapeutic agent into a ureter. Systems for delivering a therapeutic agent also are provided.

Abstract: Methods of fluid assessment and treatment, which may include measuring a quantitative relaxation time (T2) of a muscle of a patient to determine whether the patient is hypovolemic, euvolemic, or hypervolemic. Methods of treatment may include determining a first fluid status of a patient by measuring a first quantitative relaxation time (T2) of a muscle of the patient, and administering to the patient a fluid reduction treatment or a hydration treatment.

Abstract: A sensor is provided for measuring a dissolved oxygen concentration in vivo when implanted at a tissue site and in ex vivo applications. The sensor includes an article comprising a sensing medium retained within the implantable article by an oxygen-permeable material. The sensing medium comprises an MR contrast agent for oxygen. The sensor is configured to indicate the dissolved oxygen concentration of a fluid, e.g., in vivo at the tissue site, when subjected to an MR-based method.

Abstract: An implantable medical device is provided for controlled drug delivery within the bladder, or other body vesicle. The device may include at least one drug reservoir component comprising a drug; and a vesicle retention frame which comprises an elastic wire having a first end, an opposing second end, and an intermediate region therebetween, wherein the drug reservoir component is attached to the intermediate region of the vesicle retention frame. The retention frame prevents accidental voiding of the device from the bladder, and it preferably has a spring constant selected for the device to effectively stay in the bladder during urination while minimizing the irritation of the bladder.

Abstract: An implantable medical device is provided for controlled drug delivery within the bladder, or other body vesicle. The device may include at least one drug reservoir component comprising a drug; and a vesicle retention frame which comprises an elastic wire having a first end, an opposing second end, and an intermediate region therebetween, wherein the drug reservoir component is attached to the intermediate region of the vesicle retention frame. The retention frame prevents accidental voiding of the device from the bladder, and it preferably has a spring constant selected for the device to effectively stay in the bladder during urination while minimizing the irritation of the bladder.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for treating a patient having bladder pain and/or irritative voiding symptoms. The method includes administering to the patient's bladder lidocaine or another anesthetic agent continuously over a treatment period of 24 hours or more in an amount effective to achieve a therapeutic effect which is sustained beyond the end of the treatment period.

Abstract: A Unilateral Linear Halbach magnet configuration includes a central magnetized region recessed relative to adjacent magnetized regions disposed on opposite sides of the central magnetized region. The Unilateral Linear Halbach magnet configuration further includes side (or outer) magnetized regions disposed adjacent the center-adjacent magnetized regions. The center and center-adjacent magnetized regions have like-pointing magnetization vectors while the magnetization vectors of the side magnetized regions point in directions orthogonal to the magnetization vectors of the center and center-adjacent regions. Further, the magnetization vectors of the side magnetized regions point in opposite directions.

Abstract: A method is provided for local controlled delivery of a drug to the seminal vesicle, the prostate, the ejaculatory duct, or the vas deferens of a patient in need of treatment. In one embodiment, the method includes implanting a resorbable drug delivery device within the seminal vesicle, the prostate, the ejaculatory duct, or the vas deferens of the patient. The drug delivery device may include an elastic device body housing at least one drug reservoir which contains at least one drug. In a preferred embodiment, the method further includes releasing the drug from the device in a controlled manner to, typically directly to, the seminal vesicle, the prostate, the ejaculatory duct, or the vas deferens.

Abstract: An oxygen sensor is provided for measuring a dissolved oxygen concentration when deployed or implanted at a tissue site. The oxygen sensor includes a solid-state contrast agent for oxygen. The oxygen sensor is configured to indicate the dissolved oxygen concentration of a tissue when subjected to a magnetic resonance based method. The oxygen sensor may be used to map tumor oxygenation levels and for adaptive planning in brachytherapy.

Abstract: Drug delivery articles, resident articles, and retrieval systems e.g., for gram-level dosing, are generally provided. In some embodiments, the articles are configured for transesophageal administration, transesophageal retrieval, and/or gastric retention to/in a subject. In certain embodiments, the article includes dimensions configured for transesophageal administration with a gastric resident system. In some cases, the article may be configured to control drug release e.g., with zero-order drug kinetics with no potential for burst release for weeks to months. In some embodiments, the articles described herein comprise biocompatible materials and/or are safe for gastric retention. In certain embodiments, the article includes dimensions configured for transesophageal retrieval. In some cases, the articles described herein may comprise relatively large doses of drug (e.g., greater than or equal to 1 gram).

Abstract: A nanofluidic peristaltic pump includes an elongated tubular member having a first end, an opposed second end, and an elastic wall defining a flow channel extending between the first and second ends; and a series of shape memory alloy actuator wires extending across and at least partially around the outer surface of the elastic wall at spaced positions along the length of the tubular member, wherein the actuator wires are configured to reversibly and directly compress the wall, and thereby constrict regions of the flow channel, upon an electrothermally induced phase transition of the shape memory alloy. With the flow channel at the first end of the tubular member in fluid communication with a fluid source, an electric current is delivered to the actuator wires to sequentially activate and deactivate them and cause fluid to flow through the flow channel from the first end toward the second end.

Abstract: A medical probe for guided insertion into soft tissue, such as the brain, is disclosed. The medical probe may include a flexible, elongated body having a proximal end portion and an opposed distal end portion. The elongated body has a length of at least 1 cm and an outer diameter of 80 ?m or less. The distal end portion may comprise a beveled tip such that the distal end portion of the medical probe can be steered independently to a target site in the soft tissue.

Abstract: Abstract of the Disclosure Implantable drug delivery devices and methods of making and using the same are provided. The implantable drug delivery devices permit selective activation and deactivation of drug delivery while subcutaneously implanted in a patient without the use of electronic equipment or power. The devices include a bistable member that has two stable states. In a first stable state, the bistable member does not close off a fluidic pathway between a drug reservoir and a drug release aperture, thereby allowing drug release from the device. In a second stable state, the bistable member closes off or narrows the fluidic pathway, thereby reducing or preventing drug release from the device. A patient or another person can reversibly change the bistable member between the first and second stable states by applying pressure on the patient's skin over the site of implantation and/or manipulating the device through the patient's skin at the site of implantation.

Abstract: Drug delivery devices, medicaments, and methods are provided for the intraperitoneal treatment of ovarian cancer. An implantable device for drug delivery includes an elongated, flexible device having a housing defining a reservoir that contains a drug in solid or semi-solid form, and configured to be wholly deployed within the peritoneal cavity of a patient and continuously release a therapeutically effective amount of the drug over a period of at least 24 hours. A medicament includes cisplatin for administration into the peritoneal cavity of a patient continuously over a treatment period of at least 24 hours. A method of drug delivery includes implanting within the peritoneal cavity of a patient an elongated, flexible device having a reservoir containing a drug, solubilizing the drug at least in part with peritoneal fluid, and releasing an effective amount of the solubilized drug from the reservoir continuously for a period of at least 24 hours.

Abstract: Methods, systems, devices, and medicaments are provided for locally administering to a pelvic-area organ or tissue structure in a patient at least one drug continuously or continually over a treatment period of 24 hours or more in an amount effective to achieve a therapeutic effect in another organ or tissue structure by means of shared or convergent pelvic afferent pathways. The methods systems, devices, and medicaments can be used in the treatment of IC/BPS, chronic pelvic pain, vulvodynia, orchialgia, urethral syndrome, dysparenia, chronic prostatitis, chronic pelvic pain, levator ani syndrome, irritative bowel syndrome, or a combination thereof. The drug may include anesthetic agents, analgesic agents, antispasmodic agents, antimuscarinic agents, and combinations thereof. The drug may be released from a drug delivery device or a sustained release composition deployed inside the bladder.

Abstract: A Unilateral Linear Halbach magnet configuration includes a central magnetized region recessed relative to adjacent magnetized regions disposed on opposite sides of the central magnetized region. The Unilateral Linear Halbach magnet configuration further includes side (or outer) magnetized regions disposed adjacent the center-adjacent magnetized regions. The center and center-adjacent magnetized regions have like-pointing magnetization vectors while the magnetization vectors of the side magnetized regions point in directions orthogonal to the magnetization vectors of the center and center-adjacent regions. Further, the magnetization vectors of the side magnetized regions point in opposite directions.

Abstract: A neural drug delivery system is disclosed. In an embodiment, the system includes two or more microtubes, each having a distal end, a proximal end, and elongate channel body extending therebetween; an electrode having a distal end, a proximal end, and elongate body extending therebetween; an elongate carrying template supporting the microtubes and the electrode in an aligned stack; and an annular needle having a distal end and a proximal end, and housing the carrying template, the microtubes, and the electrode. The system may include at least one pump fluidically connected to the proximal end(s) of one or more of the microtubes. The pump may be configured to deliver a fluid drug on demand through the elongate channel body and out of the distal end of the microtubes.

Abstract: A method delivers an implantable device through the urethra and into the bladder. A deployment instrument is inserted into the urethra, the implantable device is inserted into the deployment instrument, and a stream of fluid is injected into the deployment instrument. The stream of fluid drives the implantable device from the deployment instrument into the bladder. The deployment instrument is removed from the urethra, leaving the implantable device wholly implanted in the bladder.

Abstract: Drug delivery devices, medicaments, and methods are provided for the intraperitoneal treatment of ovarian cancer. An implantable device for drug delivery includes an elongated, flexible device having a housing defining a reservoir that contains a drug in solid or semi-solid form, and configured to be wholly deployed within the peritoneal cavity of a patient and continuously release a therapeutically effective amount of the drug over a period of at least 24 hours. A medicament includes cisplatin for administration into the peritoneal cavity of a patient continuously over a treatment period of at least 24 hours. A method of drug delivery includes implanting within the peritoneal cavity of a patient an elongated, flexible device having a reservoir containing a drug, solubilizing the drug at least in part with peritoneal fluid, and releasing an effective amount of the solubilized drug from the reservoir continuously for a period of at least 24 hours.

Abstract: Trapping devices and methods are provided for capturing a medical analyte, in blood or another biological fluid. The device may include a structural substrate and a binding agent, such as an antibody, affixed to the structural substrate, wherein the binding agent is capable of binding or attaching with a medical analyte, such as a viral particle, and the device is configured for placement in a biological cavity or vessel (containing a biological fluid) in a patient. The trapping device, which may be in a twisted coil shape, is configured to trap at least some of the medical analyte, such a viral particle, present in the biological fluid. The method may include deploying a trapping device into the patient's blood vessel; after a period following the deployment, removing the trapping device from the biological cavity or blood vessel; and then analyzing the trapping device for the presence of the medical analyte.