Did You Know...
...that the Slinky toy was the result of a failed attempt by engineer Richard James to produce an antivibration device for ship instruments? His goal was to develop a spring that would instantaneously counterbalance the wave motion that rocks a ship at sea. Instead, he developed the Slinky.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8166977 | Pelvic surgery drape A urological drape is provided defining a vaginal aperture and a finger cot for accessing the rectum of a patient without making contact therewith. The drape includes an adhesive backing for fixing the drape relative to the patient. Preferably, a pouch is provided w... | 05/01/2012 |
| 8162814 | Methods and apparatus for correction of urinary and gynecological pathologies, including treatment of male incontinence, and female cystocele The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for treatment of male incontinence and a method for female cystocele repair in which a sling material is positioned between the descending rami of the pubic bone. In such an operation a “hammock-like” sling ... | 04/24/2012 |
| 8160710 | Systems and methods for implanting tissue stimulation electrodes in the pelvic region 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 ... | 04/17/2012 |
| 8147478 | Coated sling material The present invention relates to a sling, methods of making and using a sling, and kits comprising a sling for treating urinary incontinence. The sling has multiple elongation properties that serve to improve the support of the urethra. The sling may comprise a coat... | 04/03/2012 |
| 8109870 | Inflatable penile prosthesis bypass valve noise reduction An inflatable penile prosthesis includes an implantable pump having a bypass valve. The bypass valve includes a cavity having a valve seat at a port, a poppet and a spring. The poppet includes a valve member and a stem extending from the valve member. In operation, ... | 02/07/2012 |
| 8109866 | Method and apparatus for prolapse repair A pelvic implant having a central support portion, and a plurality of extension members, is provided. The extension members can be positioned or extend from the central support portion in opposing pairs. The extension members are generally attached to the central su... | 02/07/2012 |
| 8105318 | Introducer and valve cap for anastomosis device Improved anastomosis devices having structural upgrades to increase ease of use while simultaneously increasing patent safety. The anastomosis device can include an introducer member having an introducer rod and an introducer cap to provide additional support to a c... | 01/31/2012 |
| 8088131 | Surgical suture passers and methods A surgical instrument for suturing soft tissue is disclosed. The surgical instrument is capable of probing tissue, and preferably provides tactile feedback concerning the condition of the tissue. The instrument can then be used to pass and retrieve a suture without ... | 01/03/2012 |
| 8080024 | Protective enclosure for medical device components An anastomosis surgical device comprising an elongate body having a drainage aperture at a distal end for communication with a proximal end of the elongate body, tissue approximating structure extendable from the elongate body and spaced proximally from the drainage... | 12/20/2011 |
| 8066725 | Anastomosis device having improved safety features An anastomosis device providing increased functionality, reliability and safety through the use of designs addressing potential puncture of an inflation balloon being used to hold and approximate tissue. The anastomosis device can include bladder retention structure... | 11/29/2011 |
| 8062209 | Implantable pump An implantable pump with a plurality of protrusions and grooves is described. ... | 11/22/2011 |
| 8062206 | Method and apparatus for treatment of vaginal anterior repairs An apparatus for repairing cystocele including an adjustable support member, a pair of superior support arms continuously knitted with said support member, and a pair of inferior support arms continuously knitted with said support member, wherein the distance betwee... | 11/22/2011 |
| 8057382 | Implantable article and method An implantable article and method are disclosed for treating pelvic floor disorders such as vaginal vault prolase. A surgical kit useful for performing a surgical procedure such as a sacral colpopexy is also described. ... | 11/15/2011 |
| 8043204 | Transobturator surgical articles and methods Surgical articles, implants and components suitable for a transobturator surgical procedure are described. ... | 10/25/2011 |
| 8038594 | Prolapse repair Surgical instruments for prolapse repair are disclosed. The surgical instruments have straight portions and helical portions. ... | 10/18/2011 |
| 8009945 | Beam area adjustment through fiber bending A method positions a first end of an optic fiber a distance from a target and applies a laser light to a second end of the optic fiber such that the laser light is guided by the optic fiber from the second end to the first end of the optic fiber and is emitted from ... | 08/30/2011 |
| 7998055 | Male urethral prosthesis with tensioning member The present invention provides a urethral prosthesis including a first and a second arm that join to form a junction, and a stem that is also joined to the junction. The junction is adapted to exert sufficient pressure on a portion of a patient's urethra to prevent ... | 08/16/2011 |
| 7995638 | High power, end pumped laser with off-peak pumping A laser configuration producing up to 100's of Watts of output is provided, based on a solid-state gain medium, a source of pump energy which is detuned from the maximum absorption wavelength for the gain medium, and optics arranged to deliver the pump energy throug... | 08/09/2011 |
| 7993264 | Orientation adapter for injection tube in flexible endoscope An endoscope adapter ring for a needleless fluid delivery system for delivering therapeutic fluids to treatment sites within a patient. The needless fluid delivery system can include an automated injector source and a needleless access device. The access device can ... | 08/09/2011 |
| 7993261 | Method and apparatus for cystocele repair A method for cystocele repair comprising the steps of: establishing four pathways in tissue around a bladder of a patient, introducing a strap into each of said pathways, and positioning beneath said bladder of said patient a support member having each said strap co... | 08/09/2011 |
| 7988615 | Transobturator surgical articles and methods A surgical instrument for treating incontinence includes a handle portion elongate along a handle axis and a needle portion connected to the handle portion. The needle portion has a spacer portion along the handle axis, and has a distal end. The needle portion inclu... | 08/02/2011 |
| 7972262 | Sling assembly with secure and convenient attachment A surgical assembly for treating fecal incontinence can include an elongate needle, a sling and a coupler to conveniently and securely connect the coupler to an insertion end of the needle by moving the coupler and insertion end of the needle together. ... | 07/05/2011 |
| 7963909 | Methods of manufacturing fluid reservoirs for penile implant devices A fluid reservoir for a penile implant device that includes a body portion having a sleeve from which a tube may extend. The body portion includes support structure positioned at an interior surface of the body portion near an orifice of the reservoir, which orifice... | 06/21/2011 |
| 7947047 | Medical screwdrivers and methods The invention provides a medical screwdriver having a sleeve that can be coupled to the medical screwdriver without the need to align the sleeve to the medical screwdriver. The medical screwdriver includes a body portion having a receiver, a drive shaft, a sleeve, a... | 05/24/2011 |
| 7946975 | Fluid reservoir for penile implant devices The invention is directed to a medical device, particularly a penile prosthesis, that includes an implantable element and a reservoir. The implantable element is configured to be implanted within the pelvic region of a patient and is designed to be capable of inflat... | 05/24/2011 |
| 7918782 | Prosthesis with bladder that adjusts girth A prosthetic device comprises a column formed of resilient material and having a proximal end and a distal end. The prosthetic device comprises a bladder having a liquid cavity at the distal end. The bladder is inflatable and deflatable to increase and decrease a gi... | 04/05/2011 |
| 7914439 | Implantable penile prosthesis pump Pumps for use with inflatable implantable penile prostheses in accordance with the invention include features that can provide for free fluid flow during inflation and deflation modes of the pump. Pumps may also include a bypass chamber that is fluidly connected to ... | 03/29/2011 |
| 7914437 | Transobturator methods for installing sling to treat incontinence, and related devices Described are methods of treating urinary incontinence using a urinary sling and a tissue path that passes through the obturator foramen, along with related surgical implants, devices, systems, and kits. ... | 03/29/2011 |
| 7909817 | Lateral laser fiber for high average power and peak pulse energy An improved optical fiber comprising a waveguide with an input for coupling focused laser energy into the waveguide and communicating electromagnetic radiation in a propagation direction to an internally reflective tip of the waveguide, a tissue contacting surface w... | 03/22/2011 |
| 7909753 | Connector for mesh support insertion Disclosed is a surgical system for positioning an implant in a patient. The surgical system includes an insertion needle and a connector. The insertion needle has a distal end with a channel formed therein. The channel has a first end and a second end. The first end... | 03/22/2011 |
| 7905825 | Pelvic implants and related methods Described are surgical implants that include a central support portion adapted to be positioned to support pelvic tissue, between mesh end portions adapted to be passed through body tissue, wherein edges of the end portions exhibit extensions that are resistant to d... | 03/15/2011 |
| 7901346 | Method for supporting vaginal cuff Described are methods and devices useful for supporting posterior vaginal tissue for various purposes such as treating or preventing vaginal prolapse or enterocele, especially in a patient not having a uterus, the devices including implants designed to contact the v... | 03/08/2011 |
| 7874978 | Implantable pump An implantable pump with a plurality of protrusions and grooves is described. ... | 01/25/2011 |
| 7871367 | Surgical articles for placing an implant about a tubular tissue structure and methods A minimally invasive surgical instrument for placing an implantable article about a tubular tissue structure is disclosed. The surgical instrument is particularly useful for treating urological disorders such as incontinence. Surgical methods using the novel instrum... | 01/18/2011 |
| 7869016 | Fiber damage detection and protection device A medical laser system and related methods of monitoring optical fibers to determine if an optical fiber cap on the optical fiber is in imminent danger of failure. The laser system includes a photodetector for converting returned light from the optical fiber cap to ... | 01/11/2011 |
| 7867161 | Sling delivery system and method of use An apparatus and method of use are disclosed to treat urological disorders. The biocompatible device includes a handle, needle, dilator and sling assembly configured to be minimally invasive and provide sufficient support to the target site. In addition, the configu... | 01/11/2011 |
| 7850649 | Mechanical volume control for injection devices A needleless fluid delivery system allowing for selective control of amounts of therapeutic fluids that are administered to treatment sites within a patient. The fluid delivery system includes an injector source and an access device. The fluid delivery system genera... | 12/14/2010 |
| 7828715 | Method of treating anal incontinence A method for treating anal incontinence is provided, in which a support member is implanted in a tissue pathway extending from a first location posterior to and adjacent the anus, through the perineum anterior to the anus and terminating at a location posterior to a... | 11/09/2010 |
| 7811223 | Articles, devices, and methods for pelvic surgery Described are implants, tools, and related methods, for use in pelvic surgery to treat conditions such as prolapse and incontinence, including one embodiment of a method that uses a transcoccyx tissue path; other embodiments that use particular implants with various... | 10/12/2010 |
| 7811222 | Method and apparatus for treating pelvic organ prolapse An apparatus for treating pelvic organ prolapse in a patent is provided. The apparatus includes a support portion having first and second ends. A first elongated end portion is connected to the first end of the support portion. The first elongated end portion includ... | 10/12/2010 |
