Ams Research Corporation

Urometrics, Inc.

Other

Center for Urological Treatment & Research

Cybernetic Medical Systems Corporation

L Dean Knoll

Claire T Hovland

Jerome H Abrams

Curtis E Olson

James R Ardito

Roger Dixon

Russel R Voght

William L Furlow

Ralph C Benson, Jr

Described are methods, implants, insertion tools, and related systems and kits, for placing an implant to treat urinary incontinence; the implants include soft tissue anchors that are capable of engaging needles of the insertion tools, and the implants are designed to place a central support portion at a location to support a urethra with extension portions and soft tissue anchors extending to tissue at regions of an obturator foramen.

Methods and implants for treating urinary incontinence

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

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.

Systems and methods for monitoring and evaluating penile tumescence

An apparatus for treating impotence incorporating a pulse generator and a lead for carrying electrical pulses from the pulse generator to the cavernous nerve. The pulse generator includes a magnetically actuated switching mechanism for extending battery life. One version of the pulse generator is programmable so that the width, frequency and amplitude can be varied.

Cavernous nerve stimulation device

A pericatheter device is disclosed for enabling the introduction of contrast medium into the urethra and bladder neck of a patient with a catheter indwelling to enable radiographic visualization without removal of the catheter. The device has a crescent-shaped elongate member, a mating member for mating with a syringe, and a spacer member coupling the elongate member and mating member. A straight through-bore is provided from the mating member through the spacer member and through the elongate member so that a liquid contrast medium can be injected therethrough.

Growing community of inventors

Brentwood, TN, United States of America

L Dean Knoll