Urometrics, Inc.

Surgical Connections, Inc.

Nugyn, Inc.

University of Minnesota

American Medical Systems, Inc.

Alagin Research LLC

Claire T Hovland

Jerome H Abrams

Curtis E Olson

Paul Joseph Robinson

L Dean Knoll

Christopher Marshall

Jian-Ping Wang

Claude Tihon

Charles S Desilets

Philip A Messina

W Scott Andrus

Irwin Goldstein

Timothy A Bloomquist

Noel N Kim

Jing Ying

Edward J Wons

Roger Dixon

Apparatus, methods and systems for treating venous occlusive disease are provided. Generally, devices include a removable soft extension member that is adapted to be mounted at a proximal end of a therapeutic vacuum chamber. The soft extension member includes a proximal end composed of a tissue contacting portion configured to receive a tissue to be treated, and a distal end composed of a collar configured to be mounted onto an exterior surface of a vacuum chamber. Apparatus, methods and systems for increasing penile and cavernosal tumescence by application of a vacuum are also provided.

Apparatus and methods for treating venous occlusive disorders

Apparatus, methods and systems for treating venous occlusive disease are provided. Generally, devices include a soft extension member that is adapted to be mounted at a proximal end of a therapeutic vacuum device. The soft extension member includes a proximal end composed of a tissue contacting portion configured to receive a tissue to be treated, and a distal end composed of a collar configured to be mounted onto an exterior surface of a vacuum chamber. Apparatus, methods and systems for increasing clitoral and cavernosal tumescence by application of a vacuum are also provided.

Particle functionalization systems including one or more of: a target of a material; an energetic ion and/or electron source providing accelerated ions and electrons to the target; a potential that is applied to at least the target and that causes ions and/or electrons from the ionized gas to impact a surface of the target and release atoms of the material; at least one magnet providing a magnetic field that controls movement of the ions and electrons and nucleation, formation and growth of particles from the released atoms; and a particle collection device that collects particles, the collection device comprising a substrate and a polymeric functionalization coating disposed on the substrate, wherein particles impinge upon and form bonds with molecules of the functionalization coating. Methods of preparing functionalized particles, functionalized particle compositions, and kits including functionalized particles are also described.

Particle functionalization

A system for causing penile erection and/or subjecting the penis to stretching. The system utilizes a vacuum source and/or supply device, a housing configured to at least partially receive therein a penis, and a garment or support configured to retain and/or support the housing. Also disclosed is a method of using the system on a user's penis as discussed in the instant application.

System and method for treating and/or preventing erection problems

According to embodiments of the invention, an apparatus for moving a diseased portion of an anatomical structure with respect to a healthy portion of an anatomical structure includes a first vacuum section adapted to apply vacuum force to and hold the healthy portion, and a second vacuum section adapted to apply vacuum force to and hold the diseased portion, wherein the second vacuum section is adapted to withdraw within the first vacuum section.

Resection and anastomosis devices and methods

Therapeutic devices and methods according to embodiments of the invention alleviate e.g. urinary incontinence in female and male patients. Suction or vacuum, for example, is applied to the genital region, clitoris or clitoral region, the external urethral orifice, and/or other designated areas, e.g. physically stimulating the sacral/pudendal nerves and/or nerve roots and alleviating incontinence. Such embodiments also can encourage or cause clitoral engorgement, or otherwise promote blood flow in the genital region. Vacuum or suction applied to e.g. the clitoris creates a negative pressure in the clitoris that is lower than the systolic blood pressure, tending to promote engorgement of the clitoris with blood. Aspects of the invention are applicable not only to treatment of urinary and fecal incontinence, but also to the treatment of female sexual dysfunction. Aspects of the invention are also applicable to treatment of male incontinence and male erectile dysfunction.

Devices and methods for treatment of incontinence

Surgical devices and methods achieve a desired configuration of one or more anatomical structures, e.g. by suction or inflation, and then optionally deploy a stabilizing or fastening agent or holding device, for example a helical staple, to stabilize the anatomical structure in the desired configuration. Aspects of the invention can be used in the treatment of incontinence, coronary artery blockage, and blockages or strictures in other anatomical structures. Additionally, embodiments of the invention also can be used to create anastomoses between anatomical structures, and/or to create or reverse functional vasectomies, tubal ligations and the like. Aspects of the invention are particularly (though not exclusively) applicable in minimally invasive surgical settings.

Surgical stabilizer devices and methods

Embodiments of the invention provide a permanent implanted support for e.g. the urethral neck of the bladder, generally preventing urinary leakage caused by transmission of intra-abdominal pressure pulse waves. The support is implanted in a straightforward manner without the significant complexity and invasiveness associated with known surgical techniques. Pelvic trauma is dramatically reduced. Embodiments of the invention can be used in treatment of stress incontinence, and other types of incontinence, in both males and females.

Devices and methods for treating e.g. urinary stress incontinence

Therapeutic devices and methods according to embodiments of the invention encourage or cause clitoral engorgement to assist in the treatment of female sexual dysfunction. A vacuum is created over the clitoris, or suction is applied to the clitoris, to create a negative pressure in the clitoris that is lower than the systolic blood pressure. This tends to promote engorgement of the clitoris with blood.

Clitoral treatment devices and methods

Clitoral therapy device

An apparatus for diagnosing male impotence by measuring blood velocity in a cavernosal artery of a male penis includes at least one transducer for transmitting/receiving energy and reading corresponding Doppler effect to detect blood velocity in the cavernosal artery, a transducer housing for supporting the transducer in a substantially fixed orientation with respect to the penis as the transducer measures blood velocity in the cavernosal artery, and a fixing device, mechanically coupled to the transducer housing, to substantially mechanically fix the transducer housing in place with respect to the penis and hold the at least one transducer in a substantially constant angular orientation with respect to the cavernosal artery during an impotence diagnostic procedure. Corresponding methods are also disclosed.

Male impotence diagnostic ultrasound system

Devices and methods according to embodiments of the invention measure physiological changes that occur in the female during sexual arousal. These include changes in clitoral, vaginal-artery, and/or vaginal-capillary blood flow, clitoral engorgement, and bioimpedance, to name a few. Feedback devices and methods assist a patient or medical professional to determine when arousal occurs and what its best triggers are for a particular patient. Overnight arousal-event monitoring, or other continuous monitoring over extended periods of time, either at home or away from home, allows diagnosis of vasculogenic impairment or other problems. The effects of medicinal therapies aimed at female sexual dysfunction can be quantified and used to titrate proper dosages. Embodiments of the invention provide objective, quantifiable measures of multiple physiological variables associated with female arousal, in a manner heretofore unseen in the prior art.

Devices and methods for monitoring female arousal

Embodiment of the invention provide a permanent implanted support for e.g. the urethral neck of the bladder, substantially preventing urinary leakage caused by transmission of intra-abdonminal pressure pulse waves. The support is implanted in a straightforward manner without the significant complexity and invasiveness associated with known surgical techniques. Pelvic trauma is dramatically reduced. Embodiments of the invention can be used in treament of stress incontinence, and other types of incontinence, in both males and females.

Devices and methods for treating E.G. urinary stress incontinence

An apparatus for monitoring the tumescent state of the penis of a patient includes a plurality of sensing elements to be placed in proximity to the penis for sensing penile impedance values. A processing device is operably coupled to the plurality of sensing elements, the processing device determining at least one penile variable using the impedance values. The at least one penile variable is selected from the group consisting of length, volume, volume-change, cross-sectional area and volume-filling rate variables. An output device operably coupled with the processing device to generate a display using the at least one determined penile variable. The output device displays e.g. a plot of penile length, penile volume values and/or penile cross-sectional area values for comparison by a user of the apparatus, readily allowing the user to distinguish artifactual effects from erectile events. According to one embodiment, cardiac-signature data is determined using the penile impedance values, and the apparatus indicates periods of erectile activity using the cardiac-signature data. Corresponding methods also are discussed.

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Minnetonka, MN, United States of America

Claire T Hovland