Abstract: 1. A medical device with a proximal end for insertion into a body of a living being and an axially opposite distal end, the device comprising: a tip which in a first position forms the proximal end of the device, a drainage section forming a conduit extending in an axial direction of the device, and a retention section extending between the draining section and the tip, wherein the tip is operable between the first position and a second position so as to move the retention section between a first configuration and a second configuration, in which second configuration the retention section is expanded in a direction transverse to the axial direction. The conduit and the tip may be dimensioned to allow the tip to be received within the conduit. One advantage of such a system is that the retention system may be retracted entirely into the conduit so as to make insertion and retraction of the device more comfortable for the patient.

Abstract: The invention provides a medical device such as a catheter for draining fluids from the body of a living being. The device has a braided portion with crossed filaments which form a braiding angle with a centre axis of the device. The braided portion can be expanded in a direction transverse to the centre axis e.g. in order to anchor the device in the body, e.g. to retain a urinary catheter in the bladder of a patient. The filaments form at least two different braiding angles which thereby facilitate an increased expansion or expansion into a specific shape of the expanded portion and thereby facilitates an improved anchoring of the device in the body.

Abstract: The invention provides a medical device such as a catheter having in a proximal end a braided portion being operable between two configurations, one for insertion of the device into the body and one for retaining the catheter in the body. To reduce ingrowth of body tissue, the braided portion comprises two parts, a first part forming paths for a body liquid, e.g. urine, to be drained from the body through the device to a place of disposal, and a second part having a structure which counteracts cell adhesion better than the first part. During use, the first part is drawn into the second part whereby the cells are separated from first part by the second part and therefore ingrowth of body tissue is reduced or avoided completely. The invention further provides a method of making a device with a braided portion and being improved with respect to ingrowth of body tissue.

Abstract: A real-time, interactive auction process for use in electronic commerce includes buyer and administrator interfaces coupled to a central controller via a global information network. The central controller processes and stores customer and product information as well as offer (acceptable price) information and order (bid) information. Each product is assigned a minimum acceptable price (MAP) as well as a virtual minimum acceptable price (VMAP). The VMAP is always greater than MAP and is assigned one of three parameters, loose, medium, or tight. The VMAP is generated randomly within a loose, medium, or tight range of the MAP. The bidder can submit as many as three bids with counter offers made to the first two bids. If the third bid is declined, the bidder is locked out of the bidding process.