Abstract: A collateral ventilation bypass trap system directly linked with a patient's lung or lungs may be utilized to increase the expiratory flow from the diseased lung or lungs, thereby treating one aspect of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The system includes a trap, a filter/one-way valve and an air carrying conduit. The system also includes a retention device for securing system elements in position.

Abstract: A nasal plug for preventing excessive fluid discharge from a nasal passage includes a plug element fabricated from an absorbent material. The plug element has a size and configuration adapted and constructed to fit into a human nasal passage. A shaft portion extends from the plug element. The shaft portion is formed as an extension of the plug element and is fabricated from the same material as the plug element. A flexible sheathing is provided on the shaft portion.

Abstract: An improved catheter device for selectively isolating and occluding a portion of the iliac vasculature of a patient includes an elongate hollow catheter shaft which is advanceable though the vascular system of the patient. The catheter shaft has a proximal portion that extends out from the patient and a distal portion adapted to be disposed within the iliac vasculature of the patient. A plurality of expandable members are disposed on the distal portion. One expandable member is dimensioned and configured so that when expanded it rests within the bifurcation of the descending aorta to the common iliac arteries (and/or within the bifurcation of the inferior vena cava that leads to the common iliac veins) so as to fixate the catheter within the iliac vasculature of the patient. At least two other expandable members are spaced apart from the fixation member and configured to selectively isolate and occlude blood flow through different portions of the iliac vasculature.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for temporarily excluding an aneurysm or an arterio-venous fistula from a flow path by transluminally disposing a hollow balloon catheter structure within the aneurysm so that its proximal and distal ends extend past the aneurysm while maintaining continuity of the flow path, and then injecting a synthetic molding material or a biological hardening agent into the aneurysm cavity to cause solidification of the volume within the cavity. Once the material within the excluded aneurysm has solidified, the balloon catheter structure is deflated and removed, so that the hardened mass forms a new lining for the organ or vessel, and relieves the weakened tissue of the aneurysm or fistula from further flow-induced stress.

Abstract: A self-retaining catheter that eliminates the problem of residual urine and also of bladder wall irritation caused by continuous contact with a spherical retention balloon which does not rely on a stylet for placement. The system may use an internal control wire that reversibly foreshortens the proximal end of the catheter thus radially displacing longitudinal strips defined in the proximal catheter to form retention wings. Alternatively, a balloon situated between the longitudinal strips is inflated to force open the retention wings once inside the urinary bladder. Radial displacement of the retention wings widens the spaces between the longitudinal strips, these spaces constituting the drainage apertures which permit complete emptying of the urinary bladder. The radially displaced retention wings abut the bladder wall in a non-continuous manner thereby reducing the area of bladder-catheter contact and further reducing bladder wall irritation.

Abstract: Systems for minimally invasive disc augmentation include an anulus augmentation component and a nucleus augmentation component. Both are suited for minimally invasive deployment. The nucleus augmentation component restores disc height and/or replaces missing nucleus pulposus. The anulus augmentation component shields weakened regions of the anulus fibrosis and/or resists escape of natural nucleus pulposus and/or the nucleus augmentation component. Methods and deployment devices are also disclosed. Methods of closing a defect in an anulus fibrosus of an intervertebral disc using a barrier are also provided.

Abstract: A detachable balloon system includes an inflatable balloon with a self-sealing valve. The balloon has an elastomeric membrane and a proximal opening. The self-sealing valve is made up of a valve body for receiving an inflation instrument to inflate the balloon. The valve body is preferably formed of a biocompatible elastomeric material and includes a base portion and a sealing portion. The base portion is bonded to the elastomeric membrane so as to seal the proximal opening of the balloon. The sealing portion is located within the balloon and extends distally from the base into the balloon. The sealing portion is compressibly sealable in response to a pressure within the balloon following inflation of the balloon and removal of the inflation instrument. A balloon dispenser for housing a balloon prior to receipt of an inflation instrument is also described.

Abstract: A device for the removal of a blockage in a passageway such as a dialysis graft or in a body passageway includes a catheter for reception and aspiration of the blockage and an occlusion engaging element distal of the distal end of the catheter which occlusion engaging element is supported on a wire that extends through the catheter. At the distal end of the catheter, there is a device such as a multi-wing malecot expansion device that is expanded after the catheter is placed in position so as to block the occlusion from passing around the outside of the catheter. The support wire can be a movable core guide wire which has a braided device on its distal end. When the core is as distal as possible of the distal end of the shell, the braid is in a collapsed minimum diameter state for insertion through the catheter and through the occlusion. Proximal movement of the core causes the braid to expand to the wall of the graft.

Abstract: A surgical balloon which is provided with a plurality of balloons so that a fixing property and a shielding property are simultaneously satisfied, and prevents a liquid or a gas from flowing from one area in the body to another area thereof. The surgical balloon is further provided with a balloon fixing device, a drain for draining water from the front nostril and a tube for supplying rinsing water into the nasal cavity so that a surgical operation using an endoscope is carried out inside the nasal cavity with the nasal cavity filled with a water flow. A high-pressure balloon having a fixing property and a low-pressure balloon having a shielding property are combined, and the balloon is pulled from the periphery of the front nostril so as to be secured; thus, a large amount of water supply and water drain are carried out through the front nostril.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for accurately detecting the detachment of both electrically conductive and non-conductive implants which have been introduced to and are intended to remain at a desired therapeutic site. The detachment detection apparatus may include a conductive or an electrically-isolated implant, such as a vasoocclusive coil, connected to a wire by an electrolytically severable joint. The detachment assembly further includes a power supply having a direct current drive circuit for supplying a direct current to the joint, an alternating current drive circuit for independently supplying an alternating current to the joint, and an alternating current monitoring circuit for monitoring an alternating current level of the alternating current supplied to the joint. The detection assembly includes a central processing unit for selecting a first mode and a second mode for determining a detachment threshold level indicating detachment of the implant.

Abstract: Methods for treating bodily tissues and fluid vessels are disclosed. According to a method of repairing a perforation in a bodily fluid vessel, a viscous, moldable substance is inserted into the vessel at the location of the perforation. A path is opened through the moldable substance to permit fluid flow through the vessel. According to a method of introducing a tissue-killing substance into a bodily fluid vessel, a catheter is provided that has a blocking mechanism configured to selectively block and unblock the vessel. The catheter also has a delivery system that is configured to introduce the tissue-killing substance into the vessel. The vessel is substantially blocked upstream of a selected tissue using the blocking mechanism. The tissue-killing substance is introduced into the vessel through the delivery system, and the vessel is unblocked when the tissue-killing substance has substantially traveled toward the selected tissue.