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.
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8177708 | Implant for the treatment of incontinence and method of using the same Implantable devices are designed to provide support to the bulbar urethral region of a patient experiencing incontinence. Surgical methods are utilized to implant the devices, and surgical tools are utilized with the surgical methods. ... | 05/15/2012 |
| 8172745 | Treatment of anal incontinence and defecatory dysfunction A method of treating anal incontinence in a patient comprises providing a sling having a central portion and first and second arms, creating a subcutaneous tunnel between a first buttock incision and a second buttock incision in the patient, mechanically widening th... | 05/08/2012 |
| 8167785 | Urethral support system A supplementary urethral support stabilization system and method for supporting the urethra is described. ... | 05/01/2012 |
| 8167786 | Systems and methods for delivering a medical implant to an anatomical location in a patient Medical implant delivery devices and systems are disclosed. In general, an exemplary delivery device comprises a shaft and a handle. An exemplary system includes any number of the following: a delivery device, a sling assembly, guide members, and connectors that int... | 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 |
| 8157722 | Surgical implants and related methods and systems Described are surgical implants, tools, systems, and related methods, useful for implantation of surgical implants, such as those used to treat pelvic conditions including incontinence. ... | 04/17/2012 |
| 8142345 | Systems and methods employing a push tube for delivering a urethral sling Systems, methods, and devices employing a push tube to deliver an implant are disclosed. ... | 03/27/2012 |
| 8128552 | Surgical instrument for treating female pelvic prolapse A surgical instrument for treating female pelvic prolapse comprising a mesh sling for implanting into the pelvis of a female, which provides support to the urethra, the anterior vaginal wall, and the posterior vaginal wall with the sling defining a tissue-anchoring ... | 03/06/2012 |
| 8123671 | Pelvic implant systems and methods Systems and methods for implanting pelvic implants (10) In one embodiment, an anterior implant (10) has multiple arms (14, 16, 18, 20) that extend outwardly from a body portion (12) of the implant (10) in opposite directions In one... | 02/28/2012 |
| 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 |
| 8100819 | Electroactive polymer based artificial sphincters and artificial muscle patches Provided are artificial muscle patches, which are adapted to be implanted adjacent a patient's heart, and artificial sphincter cuffs, which are adapted to be implanted around a body lumen, such as the urethra, the anal canal, or the lower esophagus. The devices of t... | 01/24/2012 |
| 8096938 | Controlled anal incontinence disease treatment An 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 rectum. A source of energy for energ... | 01/17/2012 |
| 8096939 | Urinary incontinence treatment with wireless energy supply A urinary incontinence treatment apparatus comprises an operable restriction device (4) to be implanted in a patient for engaging the urethra (66) or urine bladder, to form a restricted urine passageway in the urethra or urine bladder. The restriction ... | 01/17/2012 |
| 8092366 | Sling anchor system The present disclosure is generally directed to surgical articles useful for implanting support members in patients. The articles disclosed herein include a support member, such as a sling for urinary incontinence, tissue anchors, filamentary elements for associatin... | 01/10/2012 |
| 8083663 | Pelvic disorder treatment In a method of treating urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, constipation and/or pathological retention of urine, at least one electrode of a lead is implanted in contact with a pelvic muscle of the patient. A proximal end of the lead is connected to a hermetic... | 12/27/2011 |
| 8070672 | Needle design for male transobturator sling Described are surgical instruments for use in surgical procedures, related methods, systems, and kits, the instruments including features that optionally include one or more specific dimensions, and features that may result in an ergonomic advantage during use. ... | 12/06/2011 |
| 8070670 | Methods and devices for luminal and sphincter augmentation Devices and methods for augmenting or otherwise enhancing closure of body lumens comprise magnetic or magnetizable components or particles which are implanted in the wall of the lumen. The magnet fields exerted by the components or particles act to close the body lu... | 12/06/2011 |
| 8070671 | Methods and devices for luminal and sphincter augmentation Devices and methods for augmenting or otherwise enhancing closure of body lumens comprise magnetic or magnetizable components or particles which are implanted in the wall of the lumen. The magnet fields exerted by the components or particles act to close the body lu... | 12/06/2011 |
| 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 |
| 8062205 | Drug elution for implantable incontinence devices An implantable incontinence device and method provides for occluding the urethra in preventing urine leakage. The device includes an occluding member connected to a control mechanism. The occluding member is movable from a contracted (occlusive) condition to an expa... | 11/22/2011 |
| 8057383 | Systems, devices and methods for treating pelvic floor disorders Disclosed are single-incision surgical procedures for treatment of urinary incontinence and/or pelvic floor disorders and related uses, devices, kits, and methods. Implants are also disclosed for use in the exemplary procedures. In certain embodiments, soft tissue a... | 11/15/2011 |
| 8057381 | Method and implant material for treatment of urinary incontinence Methods and implant materials are provided for treating urinary incontinence. The methods may include providing a composition that includes at least one pharmaceutically active formulation capable of retropubic fat dissolution; and introducing the composition into t... | 11/15/2011 |
| 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 |
| 8033982 | Systems, devices and methods relating to a shape resilient sling-like support for treating urinary incontinence The invention, in one embodiment, is directed to systems, devices and methods for supporting an anatomical location using a self-supporting implantable device without a need for an anchor. ... | 10/11/2011 |
| 8029434 | Device for the prevention of incontinence, especially urinary incontinence The invention relates to a device for the prevention of incontinence, especially urinary incontinence, with an expandable balloon (3) that is connected to at least one fluid conduit (6) by means of which the volume of the balloon (3) can be adju... | 10/04/2011 |
| 8029435 | Implantable sling for the treatment of incontinence and method of using the same An implantable sling for the treatment of male or female incontinence and method of implementing the same. The sling comprises a urethral support portion and at least one anchoring portion extending therefrom. The anchoring portion is operatively positioned through ... | 10/04/2011 |
| 8025619 | Systems and methods for delivering a medical implant to an anatomical location in a patient A surgical device for use in a minimally invasive procedure to treat urinary incontinence can include a dilator coupled to a curved needle at one end and a sling at the opposite end. Urinary incontinence can be treated minimally invasively. One treatment includes po... | 09/27/2011 |
| 8016742 | 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... | 09/13/2011 |
| 8016743 | System for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence The inventive system includes an elongated band, which includes a urethral area at a central part of the band, the band including a first set of holes, one of the first set of holes located on one side of the central part and another of the first set of holes locate... | 09/13/2011 |
| 8016741 | Systems, devices, and methods for sub-urethral support Disclosed are single-incision surgical procedures for treatment of urinary incontinence and/or pelvic floor disorders and related uses, devices, kits, and methods. Implants are also disclosed for use in the exemplary procedures. In certain embodiments, soft tissue a... | 09/13/2011 |
| 8012080 | Systems and methods for sling delivery and placement Devices and methods for delivering and placing a surgical sling without resorting to an abdominal incision are disclosed. ... | 09/06/2011 |
| 8012081 | Adjustable surgical sling The invention, in one embodiment, is directed to systems and methods for adjusting support to an anatomical location using an expandable chamber. ... | 09/06/2011 |
| 8007429 | Vessel occlusive device and method of occluding a vessel An implantable vessel occlusive device and method for occluding a vessel are described, for example to occlude the urethra or bladder neck. The devices and methods described utilize an occlusive member connected to a control mechanism. The occlusive member is revers... | 08/30/2011 |
| 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 |
| 7985173 | Method and apparatus for treating pelvic organ prolapses in female patients An anterior implant adapted to treat central and lateral cystoceles present in a female patient includes laterally extending stabilizing straps for supporting the implant between the patient's bladder and vagina independently of the patient's arcus tendineous fascia... | 07/26/2011 |
| 7981023 | Elastic sling system and related methods The invention provides, in various embodiments, systems, devices and methods relating to adjustable length implantable sling assemblies for providing support to anatomical locations. In certain embodiments, the sling includes at least one elastic member to aid in th... | 07/19/2011 |
| 7981022 | Medical slings A sling in accordance with the invention includes a synthetic material and a non-synthetic material positioned adjacent thereto. The non-synthetic material may be wrapped around or may be attached to the synthetic material. Additionally, the non-synthetic material m... | 07/19/2011 |
| 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 |