260 results about "Pelvic floor" patented technology

The present invention provides systems and methods for the evaluation of the urethra and periurethral tissues using an MRI coil adapted for insertion into the male, female or pediatric urethra. The MRI coil may be in electrical communication with an interface circuit made up of a tuning-matching circuit, a decoupling circuit and a balun circuit. The interface circuit may also be in electrical communication with a MRI machine. In certain practices, the present invention provides methods for the diagnosis and treatment of conditions involving the urethra and periurethral tissues, including disorders of the female pelvic floor, conditions of the prostate and anomalies of the pediatric pelvis.

The systems and methods of the present invention provide for soft tissue reconstruction using a fixation device that coapts two intact anatomic structures to each other. In one embodiment, these systems and methods are used to reconstruct defects or abnormalities in the female pelvic floor by using fixation devices to produce a paravaginal suspension of the affected tissues.

Described are implantable devices and methods for treating various disorders of the pelvic floor by means of electrical stimulation of the pudendal or other nerves, and optional means for delivering drugs in association therewith. A method of precisely positioning and implanting a medical electrical lead so as to provide optimal stimulation of the pudendal nerve or a portion thereof is also described. Placement of a stimulation lead next to or on the pudendal nerve may be performed using conventional prior art techniques through gross anatomical positioning, but usually does not result in truly optimal lead placement. One method of the present invention utilizes neurophysiological monitoring to assess the evoked responses of the pudendal nerve, and thereby provide a method for determining the optimal stimulation site. Additionally, one or more electrical stimulation signals are applied, and optionally one or more drugs are infused, injected or otherwise administered, to appropriate portions of a patient's pelvic floor and pudendal nerve or portions thereof in an amount and manner effective to treat a number of disorders, including, but not limited to, urinary and / or fecal voiding dysfunctions such as constipation, incontinence disorders such as urge frequency and urinary retention disorders, sexual dysfunctions such as orgasmic and erectile dysfunction, pelvic pain, prostatitis, prostatalgia and prostatodynia.

Described are implantable devices and methods for treating various disorders of the pelvic floor by means of electrical stimulation of the pudendal and sacral nerves, or portions thereof, and optional means for delivering drugs in association therewith. Two or more electrical stimulation regimes are applied on a continuous, alternating, intermittent or other basis to the sacral and pudendal nerves, and optionally one or more drugs are infused, injected or otherwise administered, to appropriate portions of a patient's pelvic floor and pudendal nerve and / or sacral nerve, or portions thereof, in an amount and manner effective to treat a number of disorders, including, but not limited to, urinary and / or fecal voiding dysfunctions such as constipation, incontinence disorders such as urge frequency and urinary retention disorders, sexual dysfunctions such as orgasmic and erectile dysfunction, pelvic pain, prostatitis, prostatalgia and prostatodynia.

Described are implantable devices and methods for treating various disorders of the pelvic floor by means of electrical stimulation of the pudendal or other nerves, and optional means for delivering drugs in association therewith. A method of precisely positioning and implanting a medical electrical lead so as to provide optimal stimulation of the pudendal nerve or a portion thereof is also described. Placement of a stimulation lead next to or on the pudendal nerve may be performed using conventional prior art techniques through gross anatomical positioning, but usually does not result in truly optimal lead placement. One method of the present invention utilizes neurophysiological monitoring to assess the evoked responses of the pudendal nerve, and thereby provide a method for determining the optimal stimulation site. Additionally, one or more electrical stimulation signals are applied, and optionally one or more drugs are infused, injected or otherwise administered, to appropriate portions of a patient's pelvic floor and pudendal nerve or portions thereof in an amount and manner effective to treat a number of disorders, including, but not limited to, urinary and / or fecal voiding dysfunctions such as constipation, incontinence disorders such as urge frequency and urinary retention disorders, sexual dysfunctions such as orgasmic and erectile dysfunction, pelvic pain, prostatitis, prostatalgia and prostatodynia.

The present invention provides systems and methods for the evaluation of the urethra and periurethral tissues using an MRI coil adapted for insertion into the male, female or pediatric urethra. The MRI coil may be in electrical communication with an interface circuit made up of a tuning-matching circuit, a decoupling circuit and a balun circuit. The interface circuit may also be in electrical communication with a MRI machine. In certain practices, the present invention provides methods for the diagnosis and treatment of conditions involving the urethra and periurethral tissues, including disorders of the female pelvic floor, conditions of the prostate and anomalies of the pediatric pelvis.

The invention disclosed herein includes an apparatus and a method for treatment of vaginal prolapse conditions. The apparatus is a graft having a central body portion with at least one strap extending from it. The strap has a bullet needle attached to its end portion and is anchorable to anchoring tissue in the body of a patient. The invention makes use of a delivery device adapted to deploy the graft in a patient. The inventive method includes the steps of making an incision in the vaginal wall of a patient, opening the incision to gain access inside the vagina and pelvic floor area, inserting the inventive apparatus through the incision, and attaching the straps of the apparatus to anchoring tissue in the patient.

Described are implantable devices and methods for treating various disorders of the pelvic floor by means of electrical stimulation of the pudendal and sacral nerves, or portions thereof, and optional means for delivering drugs in association therewith. Two or more electrical stimulation regimes are applied on a continuous, alternating, intermittent or other basis to the sacral and pudendal nerves, and optionally one or more drugs are infused, injected or otherwise administered, to appropriate portions of a patient's pelvic floor and pudendal nerve and / or sacral nerve, or portions thereof, in an amount and manner effective to treat a number of disorders, including, but not limited to, urinary and / or fecal voiding dysfunctions such as constipation, incontinence disorders such as urge frequency and urinary retention disorders, sexual dysfunctions such as orgasmic and erectile dysfunction, pelvic pain, prostatitis, prostatalgia and prostatodynia.

Articles and procedures for preventing or treating vaginal prolapse, urinary incontinence, and other disorders of the pelvic floor.

Improved methods and apparatuses for treatment of incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse are provided. A neo ligament for increasing the supportive function of the tissues supporting the urethra, bladder neck, or rectum is disclosed. Methods of using such a neoligament to treat incontinence are disclosed. Additionally, a self tensioning elastic tissue bolster for support of the tissues that support the urethra, rectum, and bladder neck are disclosed. A method of treating incontinence by injecting proliferative agents into supportive structures is disclosed. Methods and apparatus for transvaginal and transperitieai pelvic floor bolster treatment of incontinence and bladder pillar systems are also disclosed.

The method disclosed may be used following a prostatectomy may comprise inserting an instrument having an end effector into the bladder lumen via the urethra; using the end effector to urge the bladder wall to the pelvic floor and drive an anchor through the bladder wall into the pelvic floor, thereby connecting a balloon harness within the bladder to the pelvic floor; withdrawing the end effector; inserting and inflating a balloon catheter within the balloon harness, thereby pressing the bladder wall surrounding the bladder opening against the pelvic floor; maintaining the balloon catheter in place and draining the bladder during the time required for the tissues to effectively knit; and then deflating and withdrawing the balloon catheter and disconnecting and withdrawing the balloon harness. The instrument may comprise one or more tubes that support an end effector comprising a positioner and an anchor driver.

Handles for needles suitable for pelvic floor surgical procedures are described.

Described are implantable devices and methods for treating various disorders of the pelvic floor by delivering one or more drugs to a patient's hypogastric nerve or branches or portions thereof, prostatic plexus nerve or branches or portions thereof, sacral splanchnic nerve or branches or portions thereof, pelvic splanchnic nerve or branches or portions thereof, prostate or branches or portions thereof, pelvic floor, colon or branches or portions thereof, bladder or portions thereof, vagina or portions thereof, anus or portions thereof, external anal sphincter or portions thereof, urethra or portions thereof, penile dorsal nerve or portions thereof, inferior rectal nerves or branches or portions thereof, perineal nerves or branches or portions thereof, scrotal nerves or branches or portions thereof, scrotum or portions thereof, Alcock's Canal or branches or portions thereof, sacro-tuberous ligament or branches or portions thereof, ischial tuberosity or branches or portions thereof, greater sciatic foramen or branches or portions thereof, or lesser sciatic foramen or branches or portions thereof. One, two or more drug delivery regimes are provided on a continuous, alternating, intermittent or other basis to one or more selected nerves, nerve portions or tissues in an amount and manner effective to treat a number of disorders, including, but not limited to, urinary and / or fecal voiding dysfunctions such as constipation, incontinence disorders such as urge frequency and urinary retention disorders, sexual dysfunctions such as orgasmic and erectile dysfunction, pelvic pain, prostatitis, prostatalgia and prostatodynia.

This invention relates to a surgical implant system for repairing pelvic prolapse in a patient. In particular, the present invention relates to an implant, a delivery device and a method for implanting and securing the implant to tissue structures in the pelvic region of the body.

A probe system for electro-stimulation and bio-feedback training of muscles in the pelvic floor region, in particular for pelvic floor physiotherapy and diagnosis, includes a probe having a probe body which is insertable into a vagina or a rectum, and a plurality of electrodes which are positioned at several locations along the length and around the circumference on the outer surface of the probe, the probe system further includes a control unit, operationally coupled to the probe, adapted for receiving EMG signals from each of the electrodes and for processing each of the signals for mapping the response of the muscles in the pelvic floor region.

Described are implantable devices and methods for treating various disorders of the pelvic floor by delivering one or more drugs to a patient's hypogastric nerve or branches or portions thereof, prostatic plexus nerve or branches or portions thereof, sacral splanchnic nerve or branches or portions thereof, pelvic splanchnic nerve or branches or portions thereof, prostate or branches or portions thereof, pelvic floor, colon or branches or portions thereof, bladder or portions thereof, vagina or portions thereof, anus or portions thereof, external anal sphincter or portions thereof, urethra or portions thereof, penile dorsal nerve or portions thereof, inferior rectal nerves or branches or portions thereof, perineal nerves or branches or portions thereof, scrotal nerves or branches or portions thereof, scrotum or portions thereof, Alcock's Canal or branches or portions thereof, sacro-tuberous ligament or branches or portions thereof, ischial tuberosity or branches or portions thereof, greater sciatic foramen or branches or portions thereof, or lesser sciatic foramen or branches or portions thereof. One, two or more drug delivery regimes are provided on a continuous, alternating, intermittent or other basis to one or more selected nerves, nerve portions or tissues in an amount and manner effective to treat a number of disorders, including, but not limited to, urinary and / or fecal voiding dysfunctions such as constipation, incontinence disorders such as urge frequency and urinary retention disorders, sexual dysfunctions such as orgasmic and erectile dysfunction, pelvic pain, prostatitis, prostatalgia and prostatodynia.

Implantable medical devices to relieve problems associated with incontinence and related pelvic disorders and methods of implanting same are disclosed. Stimulation leads for placement in the pelvic floor have fixation mechanisms for stabilization of the stimulation electrodes to inhibit dislodgement from a selected stimulation site. In certain embodiments, the fixation mechanisms encourage fibrosis about the lead to chronically stabilize the position of the stimulation lead and / or stimulation electrode(s). In certain embodiments, the fixation mechanisms are isolated from body tissue during routing of the stimulation lead through a tissue pathway and then exposed to body tissue to encourage fibrosis.

In one embodiment, an apparatus includes an elongate body that defines a lumen and a suture coupled to the elongate body and at least partially disposed within the lumen. The suture extends at least partially from a proximal end of the elongate body and forms a loop configured to couple a portion of a pelvic implant to the elongate body. In another embodiment, an apparatus includes an elongate body having a distal end configured to releasably couple the elongate body to a delivery device. A tubular member is movably disposed over at least a portion of the elongate body. A coupler is disposed at a proximal end of the elongate body and is configured to releasably couple an implant to the elongate body. The tubular member can be slidably disposed over at least a portion of the implant when the pelvic implant is coupled to the elongate body.

Embodiments for an anchor for use in effecting the anastomosis of a patient's bladder and urethra following a prostatectomy are disclosed. The anchor may comprise a shaft with a lodging structure. Alternative embodiments may include a penetration limiting structure, a driver interface proximate to a rearward end, a forward end with a penetration facilitating shape that may comprise a point defined by three flat intersecting faces, a bioabsorbable portion of one or more bioabsorbable materials, and a metal portion of one alloy, or a plurality of alloys which may have differing expansion properties.

The invention disclosed herein includes an apparatus and a method for treatment of vaginal prolapse conditions. The apparatus is a graft having a central body portion with at least one strap extending from it. The strap has a bullet needle attached to its end portion and is anchorable to anchoring tissue in the body of a patient. The invention makes use of a delivery device adapted to deploy the graft in a patient. The inventive method includes the steps of making an incision in the vaginal wall of a patient, opening the incision to gain access inside the vagina and pelvic floor area, inserting the inventive apparatus through the incision, and attaching the straps of the apparatus to anchoring tissue in the patient.

Described are implantable devices and methods for treating various disorders of the pelvic floor by delivering one or more drugs to a sacral nerve or nerve portion, as well as to a pudendal nerve or nerve portion. Two or more drug delivery regimes are provided on a continuous, alternating, intermittent or other basis to the sacral and pudendal nerves in an amount and manner effective to treat a number of disorders, including, but not limited to, urinary and / or fecal voiding dysfunctions such as constipation, incontinence disorders such as urge frequency and urinary retention disorders, sexual dysfunctions such as orgasmic and erectile dysfunction, pelvic pain, prostatitis, prostatalgia and prostatodynia.

A system and methodology for the automated localization, extraction, and analysis of MRI-based features with clinical information to improve the diagnosis of pelvic organ prolapse (POP). The system can automatically identify reference points for pelvic floor measurements on MRI rapidly and consistent. It provides a prediction model that analyzes the correlation between current and new MRI-based features with clinical information to differentiate patients with and without POP. This system will enable the high throughput analysis of MR images for their correlation with clinical information to better detect POP. The presented system can also be applied to the automated localization and extraction of MRI features for the diagnosis of other diseases where clinical examination is not adequate.

Devices and methods are provided for measuring pressure in a non-fluid-filled area of a patient's body. The device includes a capsule having an outer wall and a base surface that define an inner cavity, which retains fluid. The outer wall of the capsule can be made of a flexible material. The device also has a pressure sensor that measures external pressure placed on the outer wall of the capsule. Methods of use include providing the device, positioning the device in the non-fluid-filled area, and measuring pressure within the non-fluid-filled area. The pressure measurement is compared with a predetermined pressure threshold, and a treatment regimen is generated based on the differences between the measured pressure and the predetermined pressure threshold.

The invention discloses a tough tissue structure and a 3D printing forming device and method of the tough tissue structure, and belongs to the field of composite materials, tissue engineering and medical apparatuses and instruments. The tough tissue structure is a three-dimensional structure, and comprises fiber layers and hydrogel layers, wherein the fiber layers and the hydrogel layers are arranged in an alternating mode in the space, fibers of the fiber layers are arranged in an ordered or disordered mode, and cells are contained or not contained in the hydrogel layers. The 3D printing forming device comprises a scanning imaging system, a rapid forming system, a transmission system and a control system. The tough tissue structure can simulate the composite state of cells, matrixes and fibers of tough tissue in a human body in the aspects of mechanics, morphology and biology, and can be used for direct repair and regeneration of the tough tissue at the parts such as achilles tendons, ligaments, urethras and gynecology pelvic floor supporting systems. According to the tough tissue structure and the 3D printing forming device and method of the tough tissue structure, direct combination formation of the fibers, the cells and hydrogel in vitro and vivo is achieved, and the purpose that the tough tissue with lesions can be directly printed, regenerated or replaced in vitro and vivo during clinical surgery can be achieved.

The instrument disclosed may comprise a tube assembly further comprising substantially coaxially situated and relatively longitudinally movable tubes, supporting and operating an end effector that may be adapted for insertion into and through the urethra, and adapted for use in effecting the anastomosis of a patient's bladder and urethra following a prostatectomy. In alternative embodiments the tube assembly may comprise a rod and two tubes, three tubes, a rod and three tubes, or four tubes. The method disclosed may comprise inserting an instrument having an end effector into the bladder lumen, and using the end effector to urge the bladder wall to the pelvic floor and drive an anchor through the bladder wall and into the pelvic floor.

The method disclosed may be used following a prostatectomy may comprise inserting an instrument having an end effector into the bladder lumen via the urethra; using the end effector to urge the bladder wall to the pelvic floor and drive an anchor through the bladder wall into the pelvic floor, thereby connecting a balloon harness within the bladder to the pelvic floor; withdrawing the end effector; inserting and inflating a balloon catheter within the balloon harness, thereby pressing the bladder wall surrounding the bladder opening against the pelvic floor; maintaining the balloon catheter in place and draining the bladder during the time required for the tissues to effectively knit; and then deflating and withdrawing the balloon catheter and disconnecting and withdrawing the balloon harness. The instrument may comprise one or more tubes that support an end effector comprising a positioner and an anchor driver.

Systems and methods for the evaluation of the urethra and periurethral tissues may involve an MRI coil adapted for insertion into the male, female or pediatric urethra. The MRI coil may be in electrical communication with an interface circuit made up of a tuning-matching circuit, a decoupling circuit and a balun circuit. The interface circuit may also be in electrical communication with a MRI machine. In certain practices, the present invention provides methods for the diagnosis and treatment of conditions involving the urethra and periurethral tissues, including disorders of the female pelvic floor, conditions of the prostate and anomalies of the pediatric pelvis.

The present disclosure relates to surgical implants comprising a bioabsorbable incision reinforcement element, a long-term mesh, and a bioabsorbable coating disposed on the mesh. The surgical implants disclosed herein are useful in a variety of surgical procedures, particularly surgeries involving the pelvic floor. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to surgical implants, wherein an incision reinforcement element comprises a bioabsorbable material that degrades during a first time period, and the coating comprises a bioabsorbable material that degrades in a second time period, and the first time period is shorter than the second time period.