Abstract: A particle includes a ferromagnetic material, a radiopaque material, and/or an MRI-visible material.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to a lock-box device that requires a child or any other user to answer one or more educational questions correctly before being allowed access to one or more entertainment systems that require power such as a television, a computer, and a video game console.

Abstract: Assemblies and methods are provided for resecting a portion of tissue to be removed (e.g., unhealthy tissue, such as cancerous tissue) from a portion of the tissue to be retained (e.g., healthy tissue) within a patient is provided. An electrically conductive fluid, such as saline, may be absorbed into a hydrophilic electrode. Electrical energy (e.g., radio frequency (RF) energy) is conveyed to or from the hydrophilic electrode while being moved in proximity to the tissue along a resection line, whereby tissue adjacent to the resection line is coagulated. A resection member, such as a blunt resection member or a resection electrode, which may be on the same device as the hydrophilic electrode, is used to separate the tissue along the resection line to resect the tissue portion to be removed from the tissue portion to be retained.

Abstract: A particle includes a ferromagnetic material, a radiopaque material, and/or an MRI-visible material.

Abstract: Methods and devices for treating female stress urinary incontinence are disclosed. The methods include transvaginally accessing the pelvic cavity and introducing a suburethral sling into the retropubic space. In some embodiments the ends of the sling are attached to an anatomical support structure. In other embodiments, the ends of the suburethral sling are not attached to an anatomical support structure. The devices include a surgical instrument for blunt dissection of the pelvic cavity which includes a curved shaft and a blunt distal end. A hook deployment device may optionally be attached to the surgical instrument.

Abstract: A method of treating a tissue region (e.g., a tumor) is provided. The method comprises introducing a delivery sheath within an anatomical conduit that supplies the tissue region with a fluid (e.g., blood or air). The anatomical conduit may be any naturally occurring conduit within a patient. The method further comprises expanding an occlusive device (e.g., a balloon) associated with the delivery sheath, such that the conduit is at least partially occluded to reduce the flow of fluid through the conduit. The method further comprises introducing a tissue treatment catheter within the delivery sheath, advancing the treatment catheter from the delivery sheath through an aperture in a wall of the conduit adjacent the tissue region, and conveying thermal energy from (i.e., hyperthermia) or to the treatment catheter (i.e., hypothermia) to treat (e.g., by ablating) the tissue region.

Abstract: Ablation probes are provided for perfusing the tissue, while the tissue is ablated. The ablation probe comprises an elongated shaft and an ablative element, such as a needle electrode. The ablation probe further comprises a lumen that extends through the probe shaft, which will be used to deliver an fluid to the distal end of the probe shaft for perfusion into the surrounding tissue. The ablation probe further comprises a porous structure that is associated with the distal end of the shaft in fluid communication with the lumen. For example, the distal end of the shaft, or the entirety of the shaft, can be composed of the porous structure. Or, if the ablative element is an electrode, the electrode can be composed of the porous structure. Because the pores within the porous structure are pervasive, the fluid will freely flow out into the tissue notwithstanding that some of the pores may become clogged.

Abstract: A system for treating tissue includes a cannula having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending between the proximal and the distal ends, and an array of delivery tubes at least partially disposed within the lumen, each of the delivery tube having a lumen, wherein each of the delivery tubes is slidable relative to the cannula, and has a first configuration when inside the lumen, and a second configuration when outside the lumen. A system for treating tissue includes a treatment device having a distal end, and an indexing device for controlling a longitudinal position of the distal end of the treatment device relative to a target tissue region, the indexing device having a tubular portion for receiving the treatment device.

Abstract: A system and method for treating a target tissue region (e.g., malignant tissue) is provided. A hyperthermic probe is placed into contact with the target tissue region, and the target tissue region is exposed to a therapeutic x-ray radiation beam. The probe is operated to increase the temperature of the target tissue region, thereby facilitating a therapeutic effect of the radiation beam. Image data of the probe containing a fiducial datum is acquired while in contact with the target tissue region, a position of the target tissue region within a treatment coordinate system is determined based on the fiducial datum, and the radiation beam is spatially adjusted relative to the target tissue region based on the determined position of the target tissue region.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprises an elongated body member having a distal end and a head extending from the distal end of the elongated body member, with the head comprising a remotely actuatable needle driver and a needle catch. A needle is adapted for receiving a suture and for being driven by the needle driver through a tissue into the needle catch, making a stitch. The instrument further comprises a remotely actuatable implement, such as a push bar, for moving the needle from a first position lodged in the needle catch to a second position dislodged from or able to be readily dislodged from the needle catch. The instrument may be used for placing multiple stitches without removing the instrument from the body. One particularly advantageous embodiment comprises a suturing device adapted for insertion in a body lumen, such as for attaching an endoluminal device to the lumen wall.

Abstract: Methods and devices for treating female stress urinary incontinence are disclosed. The methods include transvaginally accessing the pelvic cavity and introducing a suburethral sling into the retropubic space. In some embodiments the ends of the sling are attached to an anatomical support structure. In other embodiments, the ends of the suburethral sling are not attached to an anatomical support structure. The devices include a surgical instrument for blunt dissection of the pelvic cavity which includes a curved shaft and a blunt distal end. A hook deployment device may optionally be attached to the surgical instrument.

Abstract: A stent for assisting urinary release in a male patient includes a first segment, a second segment, and a connecting member disposed between the first and second segments. The first segment includes a multi-winged malecot. When the stent is properly positioned within the patient's urinary system, the first segment is located on one side of the external sphincter with the multi-winged malecot located within the bladder to inhibit migration of the stent, and the second segment is located on the other side of the external sphincter and also tends to inhibit migration of the stent. The connecting segment is sized to extend through the external sphincter to couple the first and second segments together while not interfering with the normal operation of the external sphincter.

Abstract: Embolic compositions and methods of delivering the compositions are disclosed. In some embodiments, the embolic compositions include a shape memory material.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an elongate body including a proximal end portion and a distal end portion and configured to be at least partially inserted into a body cavity. The elongate body defines a first passageway and a second passageway. The first passageway is configured to communicate fluid from the distal end portion in a first direction, and the second passageway is configured to communicate material from outside of the elongate body into the distal end portion in a second direction opposite the first direction and includes at least one port. An actuator is coupled to the elongate body and is configured to guide the distal end of the elongate body to an area of interest identifiable by a virtual colonoscopy.

Abstract: A medical assembly and method are provided to effectively treat abnormal tissue, such as, a tumor. The target tissue is thermally ablated using a suitable source, such as RF or laser energy. A cooling shield is placed in contact with non-target tissue adjacent the target tissue, and actively cooled to conduct thermal energy away from the non-target tissue. In one method, the cooling shield can be placed between two organs, in which case, one of the two organs can comprise the target tissue, and the other of the two organs can comprise the non-target tissue. In this case, the cooling shield may comprise an actively cooled inflatable balloon, which can be disposed between the two organs when deflated, and then inflated. The inflatable balloon can be actively cooled by pumping a cooling medium through it. In another method, the cooling shield can be embedded within the non-target tissue. In this case, the cooling shield can comprise one or more needles.

Abstract: Tissue ablation probes are provided. Each tissue ablation probe comprises an electrically conductive probe shaft, at least one tissue ablation electrode carried by a distal end of the probe shaft, and an electrically insulative outer sheath disposed on the probe shaft. The sheath is at least partially composed of polyether ether ketone (PEEK) and another material comprising condensed-phase particles interspersed throughout the PEEK to increase the echogenicity of the outer sheath. The durability of the PEEK allows the sheath to be formed as thinly as possible, thereby minimizing the diameter of the ablation probe, while the inclusion of condensed-phase particles within the PEEK does not significantly degrade the durability of the sheath.

Abstract: A system and method for treating a target tissue region (e.g., malignant tissue) is provided. A hyperthermic probe is placed into contact with the target tissue region, and the target tissue region is exposed to a therapeutic x-ray radiation beam. The probe is operated to increase the temperature of the target tissue region, thereby facilitating a therapeutic effect of the radiation beam. Image data of the probe containing a fiducial datum is acquired while in contact with the target tissue region, a position of the target tissue region within a treatment coordinate system is determined based on the fiducial datum, and the radiation beam is spatially adjusted relative to the target tissue region based on the determined position of the target tissue region.

Abstract: Assemblies and methods are provided for resecting a portion of tissue to be removed (e.g., unhealthy tissue, such as cancerous tissue) from a portion of the tissue to be retained (e.g., healthy tissue) within a patient is provided. An electrically conductive fluid, such as saline, may be absorbed into a hydrophilic electrode. Electrical energy (e.g., radio frequency (RF) energy) is conveyed to or from the hydrophilic electrode while being moved in proximity to the tissue along a resection line, whereby tissue adjacent to the resection line is coagulated. A resection member, such as a blunt resection member or a resection electrode, which may be on the same device as the hydrophilic electrode, is used to separate the tissue along the resection line to resect the tissue portion to be removed from the tissue portion to be retained.

Abstract: Tissue ablation probes are provided. Each tissue ablation probe comprises an electrically conductive probe shaft, at least one tissue ablation electrode carried by a distal end of the probe shaft, and an electrically insulative outer sheath disposed on the probe shaft. The sheath is at least partially composed of polyether ether ketone (PEEK) and another material comprising condensed-phase particles interspersed throughout the PEEK to increase the echogenicity of the outer sheath. The durability of the PEEK allows the sheath to be formed as thinly as possible, thereby minimizing the diameter of the ablation probe, while the inclusion of condensed-phase particles within the PEEK does not significantly degrade the durability of the sheath.

Abstract: Medical systems and related methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, the medical systems include a catheter, an expandable medical device at least partially surrounding a portion of the catheter, a blade attached to the medical device, and an energy transmitter configured so that energy emitted by an energy source can be transmitted to the blade via the energy transmitter.