Torax Medical, Inc.

Ethicon, Gmbh

Cilag International Gmbh

Kyle P Taylor

Jerome Kent Grudem, Jr

Celeste L Huster

Michael D Auld

Lauren E Flakne

Brett E Swensgard

Janet L DeMarchi

Brandon D Bullitt

An apparatus includes a handle assembly, a shaft assembly, an end effector, and an auto-tensioning feature. The handle assembly includes a body and a plunger. The shaft assembly includes an external sheath that is fixed to the handle body and an interior shaft that is coupled to the plunger. The interior shaft is slidable relative to the external sheath. The end effector is configured to encompass a bodily lumen and includes a flexible member extending distally from the interior shaft. A first coupling element is fixed to the distal tip of the flexible member. A second coupling element is fixed to the external sheath. The first and second coupling elements are magnetically attracted to each other and are biased toward each other such that the flexible member defines an adjustable loop. The auto-tensioning feature is configured to bias the plunger portion proximally relative to the handle body.

Laparoscopic sizing instrument

A sphincter augmentation device includes a plurality of bodies and a flexible band coupled with the bodies. The bodies define a first circumferential portion of the device and are magnetically biased toward one another. The flexible band defines a second circumferential portion of the device such that the bodies are arranged non-axisymmetrically about a central axis of the device. The device is sized to be positioned around a human urethra so that the bodies and the flexible band bear inwardly against the urethra. The device is configured to transition between a radially expanded state and a radially contracted state by the magnetic bias of the bodies to constrict the urethra.

Magnetic sphincter augmentation device for urinary incontinence

An apparatus includes a plurality of beads, a plurality of links, a clasp assembly, and an adjustment feature. Each bead includes a housing, a passageway extending through the housing, and at least one annular magnet. The at least one annular magnet is coaxially positioned about the passageway. The links join the beads together. Portions of the links are slidably disposed in corresponding passageways of the beads. The clasp assembly is configured to removably secure the beads and links in a loop formation. The adjustment feature is operable to adjust an effective circumference of the loop formation. The adjustment feature may be incorporated into one or both of the clasp assembly or at least one of the beads.

Tunable magnetic sphincter augmentation device

An apparatus includes a plurality of beads and a plurality of links joining the beads together. Each bead includes a housing, a passageway extending through the housing, and at least one annular magnet. The passageway defines an axis. The at least one annular magnet is coaxially positioned about the passageway. The housing defines a gap adjacent to the at least one annular magnet. The gap is sized and configured to allow at least one annular magnet to rotate relative to the housing about a rotation axis. The rotation axis is offset from the axis of the passageway. Portions of the links are slidably disposed in corresponding passageways of the beads.

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Greenfield, MN, United States of America

Kyle P Taylor