Lawrence Welk, the bandleader who entertained millions of Americans over a generation of broadcasting his TV show, once received a patent: for a music-themed design of an ashtray.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8177707 | Method for treating tissue with an implant A method for forming a valve-like mechanism in a body of a mammal having an esophagus extending through a lower esophageal sphincter to a stomach and formed by a wall having a muscle layer and a mucosal layer. The method comprises the step of forming at least one im... | 05/15/2012 |
| 8177706 | Method of treating urinary incontinence A method for treating urinary incontinence includes the steps of inserting into the woman's vagina a first disposable device, removing the first disposable device, and inserting a second disposable device substantially identical to the first disposable device. The d... | 05/15/2012 |
| 8172744 | Devices for minimally invasive pelvic surgery The invention, in various embodiments, provides systems, devices, and methods for treating urinary incontinence. ... | 05/08/2012 |
| 8147397 | Urethral needle guide device Methods and devices for treating female urinary incontinence by injecting bulking material into the female urethral wall. Some devices include a handle, an elongate member attached to the handle, and a vacuum generating syringe removably secured to the handle. The e... | 04/03/2012 |
| 8118726 | Incontinency abatement system A body portion fabricated of an essentially rigid material is formed of similarly configured first and second segments each shaped to include a generally spherical interior enlargement, a generally spherical exterior enlargement, an intermediate section between the ... | 02/21/2012 |
| 8038594 | Prolapse repair Surgical instruments for prolapse repair are disclosed. The surgical instruments have straight portions and helical portions. ... | 10/18/2011 |
| 8029433 | Illuminated IVS tunneling device A tunneling device is provided to assist in passing a suture or tape into a body. The tunneling device includes an outer assembly and an inner member or stylet, having a light transmissive distal tip, positioned within the outer assembly. The outer assembly is provi... | 10/04/2011 |
| 8016740 | Pressure attenuation device A therapeutic device is provided. The therapeutic device can include a flexible housing and can be configured to be positioned within an anatomical structure. The therapeutic device can also include at least one high vapor pressure media having a vapor pressure grea... | 09/13/2011 |
| 7981021 | Correction of stress urinary incontinence Devices for treating stress incontinence, having a horizontal proximal portion supported on the pubococcygeus muscle and a distal portion extending downward and away from the proximal portion at an angle approximating the vagina in an erect female as it passes down ... | 07/19/2011 |
| 7951065 | Tension free pelvic floor repair A kit and method for supporting a pelvic floor of a person with stress urinary incontinence or other symptoms. The method involves using barbed sutures as part of a sling for supporting the pelvic floor or urethra of a person experiencing stress urinary incontinence... | 05/31/2011 |
| 7951064 | Endourethral device and method An endourethral device is provided having an elongate member having proximal and distal segments, the elongate member positionable within a lower urinary tract so as to at least partially traverses a prostatic urethra. A proximal anchor, adapted to abuttingly engage... | 05/31/2011 |
| 7942806 | Stress urinary incontinence implant and device for deploying same A suburethral implant for treating stress urinary incontinence (SUI) includes an elongated plate-like member which is slightly curved in transverse cross-section, and a pair of spaced apart arms having hooked ends or barbs which extend from the plate-like member. A ... | 05/17/2011 |
| 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 |
| 7892163 | Method of treating urinary incontinence A method for treating urinary incontinence includes the steps of inserting into the woman's vagina a first disposable device, removing the first disposable device, and inserting a second disposable device substantially identical to the first disposable device. The d... | 02/22/2011 |
| 7846085 | Kit for forming implants in wall of gastrointestinal tract A kit for treating a gastrointestinal tract of a mammal and including a package and a tubular needle, an end piece and a container of an implant-forming material carried within the package. The end piece has an outer surface provided with at least one recess and an ... | 12/07/2010 |
| 7828714 | Implantable device for controlling defecation and related method An implantable device for selectively controlling defecation has an outer body defining on one end a flange that is surgically attachable to the person's anus and/or tissue adjacent to the anus. A connector is mounted on the other end of the outer body and is secure... | 11/09/2010 |
| 7771345 | Surgical instrument for treating female urinary stress incontinence A suburethral sling device and method for treating female urinary stress incontinence which is anatomically configured to implant into the lower abdomen of a female in a manner providing support to mid-urethral and bladder neck sphincteric continence sites with the ... | 08/10/2010 |
| 7771344 | Device for the prevention of urinary incontinence in females The invention concerns a device for minimizing involuntary urination in females adapted for being inserted into the vagina comprising both a pressure providing member and an anchoring member to prevent slippage of the device in the vagina. The invention further conc... | 08/10/2010 |
| 7771347 | Method for treating tissue with an implant A method for forming a valve-like mechanism in a body of a mammal having an esophagus extending through a lower esophageal sphincter to a stomach and formed by a wall having a muscle layer and a mucosal layer. The method comprises the step of forming at least one im... | 08/10/2010 |
| 7771346 | Apparatus and method for inserting an adjustable implantable genitourinary device An implantable medical device and method for adjustably restricting a selected body lumen such as a urethra or ureter of a patient to treat urinary incontinence or ureteral reflux. The device includes an adjustable element and a tubular elongate body, where the adju... | 08/10/2010 |
| 7740576 | 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... | 06/22/2010 |
| 7727140 | Surgically implantable perineal urinary incontinence device An incontinence device for attachment to the inferior ischio-pubic rami in the anterior perineal triangle of a user. The device may include a generally semi-flexible bi-parabolic membrane configured to deflect from an engaged position in which the device exerts pres... | 06/01/2010 |
| 7691051 | Attenuation device for treating glaucoma Disclosed herein is an attenuation device, comprising a flexible housing and a high vapor pressure media having a permeability of less than 1 ml/day at body temperature through the outer wall of the flexible housing. In one embodiment, the high vapor pressure media ... | 04/06/2010 |
| 7691050 | Devices for minimally invasive pelvic surgery Devices and methods relating to percutaneous and hiatal approaches for treating urinary incontinence are provided herein. In particular, guide member placement devices, sling application catheters, tissue dissectors/dilators, sling application devices and a sling ap... | 04/06/2010 |
| 7686759 | Sling assemblies for treating urinary incontinence and methods related thereto A surgical fastener for use in surgical procedures comprises a first member, a second member, and an anchor. Surgical materials may be secured within the surgical fastener. Methods of securing the surgical fastener to an anatomical structure are disclosed herein. | 03/30/2010 |
| 7666133 | Apparatus and method for correcting urinary incontinence An apparatus and a method for urine containment, storage, and release is provided for male and female patients suffering from incontinence. The device comprises a housing including a valve implanted generally in the bladder of a male or female patient. The device fu... | 02/23/2010 |
| 7666132 | Anal incontinence disease treatment with controlled wireless energy supply A anal incontinence disease treatment apparatus and method include and use an operable restriction device implanted in a patient and engaging the colon or engaging the rectum to form a restricted fecal passageway in the colon or the rectum. A source of energy extern... | 02/23/2010 |
| 7654950 | Implantable device which is freely movable in a body cavity An implantable medical device (10) for insertion into a body cavity. The device comprises an expandable balloon having a torroidal shape defining a hole (80), and an insert (82) configured to be received and secured in the hole. The device may b... | 02/02/2010 |
| 7637860 | Devices for minimally invasive pelvic surgery Systems and methods employing a sling delivery assembly having a sling delivery device couplable to a sling assembly to deliver an implant through a transobturator incision point are disclosed. Successful coupling between the sling delivery device and the sling asse... | 12/29/2009 |
| 7608036 | 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 ... | 10/27/2009 |
| 7597660 | Incontinence therapy Urinary incontinence such as stress incontinence, is alleviated in a mammal, in particular a human being, especially a woman, by correcting the internal urethral orifice and the urethra with an elastic form stable material. Such a material preferably a curable elast... | 10/06/2009 |
| 7553273 | Apparatus and method for managing incontinence An incontinence management device comprises a head having a first state and a second state. In the first state, the head is sized for insertion within a predetermined body orifice or cavity. In the second state, the head is sized to substantially seal the predetermi... | 06/30/2009 |
| 7547276 | Treatment of excretory problems This invention deals with inducing urination and/or defecation as well as gastrointestinal transit time through electro-magnetic induction. The claimed method provides a non-invasive procedure to stimulate excretory functions in paraplegic and quadriplegic patients.... | 06/16/2009 |
| 7527588 | System and method for surgical implant placement A system and method for placing surgical implants and having particular application for pelvic floor repair. The system includes an assembly having a guide element with a tissue penetrating tip, a cannula, and a retrieval device having a capture element at its dista... | 05/05/2009 |
| 7524280 | Attenuation device for treating glaucoma Disclosed herein is an attenuation device, comprising a flexible housing and a high vapor pressure media having a permeability of less than 1 ml/day at body temperature through the outer wall of the flexible housing. In one embodiment, the high vapor pressure media ... | 04/28/2009 |
| 7481762 | Apparatus and method for inserting an adjustable implantable genitourinary device An implantable medical device and method for adjustably restricting a selected body lumen such as a urethra or ureter of a patient to treat urinary incontinence or ureteral reflux. The device includes an adjustable element and a tubular elongate body, where the adju... | 01/27/2009 |
| 7413540 | Devices for minimally invasive pelvic surgery Devices and methods relating to percutaneous and hiatal approaches for treating urinary incontinence are provided herein. In particular, guide member placement devices, sling application catheters, tissue dissectors/dilators, sling application devices and a sling ap... | 08/19/2008 |
| 7407479 | Incontinence treatment apparatus with connection device An apparatus for treating an anal or urinary incontinent patient includes an elongate adjustable constriction member adapted to extend in a loop around and constrict the patient's large intestine or urethra to close the intestinal or urethral lumen and release the l... | 08/05/2008 |
| 7395822 | Method and apparatus for adjustable sling for treatment of urinary stress incontinence An method and apparatus for an adjustable sling for treatment of urinary stress incontinence. The present system includes apparatus and methods for postoperative adjustment of sling tension using adjustable elements in the sling assembly. The present system also pro... | 07/08/2008 |
| 7390324 | Magnetic retrieval device and method of use Apparatus and method for retrieving a remotely located device equipped with a magnetic coupler is provided. The apparatus includes a magnetic coupling carried at an end of an elongate member for attracting the magnetic coupler of the remotely located device, and ali... | 06/24/2008 |