Uromed Corporation

Boston Scientific Corporation

Paul D McLaughlin

John G Simon

Leo C Felice

Sharad Joshi

Azhar Syad

John E Abele

Kevin R Heath

Carl J Wisnosky

Christopher C Coulter

Michelle Maxfield-Bahr

Jonathan O'Keefe

Richelle Tartacower

Azhar Syed

A novel urethral plug having adhesive thereon, wherein the adhesive seals the plug against the tissues surrounding the meatus and/or urethra, thereby arresting movement of the plug while it functions in the urethra to block the flow of urine. The urethral plug comprises a hollow or solid body which is of a sufficient length and diameter to occlude the urethra. In one embodiment, adhesive is disposed on the meatal plate of the plug so as to secure the plug against the tissues surrounding the urethral meatus. In a second embodiment, adhesive is disposed on the body of the plug so as to seal the plug against the urethral wall. In a third embodiment, the adhesive is disposed on a portion of the meatal plate so as to seal the plug against the tissues surrounding the urethral meatus. The adhesive seals the urethral plug in place until the user wishes to void, at which time, the seal may be broken by exerting a pulling force on the plug.

Urethral plug having adhesive for enhanced sealing capabilities and

A novel urethral plug assembly having adhesive thereon, wherein the adhesive seals the plug assembly against an internal wall thereby arresting movement of the plug assembly while it functions in the urethra to block the flow of urine therefrom. The plug assembly may comprise a solid body which is of a sufficient diameter to occlude the urethra. Alternatively, the plug assembly may comprise a body which has the ability to change its shape from a compressed to an elongated condition so as to conform to the urethral wall and occlude the opening to the urethra. In one embodiment of the invention, the adhesive lies on the meatal plate of the plug assembly so as to secure the plug assembly against the meatus urinarius. In a second embodiment of the invention, the adhesive is on the body of the plug assembly so as to seal the plug assembly against the urethra, bladder neck or bladder wall. In a third embodiment of the invention, the adhesive is on a portion of the meatal plate so as to seal the plug assembly at the tissue surrounding the meatus urinarius. The adhesive seals the plug assembly in place until the wearer wishes to void, at which point, the seal may be broken by the exertion a downward, pulling force on the plug assembly.

Urethral plug assembly having adhesive for enhanced sealing capabilities

A novel urethral plug comprising a cooperating shaft and balloon, lying in coaxial engagement. The balloon possesses a contracted shape for insertion and removal through the opening of the urethra, and a larger, expanded shape for blocking the flow of urine in the urethra, bladder neck and bladder. After insertion, such an expanded shape is achieved by inflation of the balloon through the use of an external source such as a syringe which introduces fluid through an opening and into the shaft. The fluid acts upon a ball valve, thus pushing the ball past a valve seat, thereby permitting fluid to travel through the shaft and into the balloon. Fluid transmission continues until the balloon is expanded to such an extent as to block the flow of urine. The balloon retains the fluid therein, and the force of the fluid on the ball valve causes the ball to rest firmly against the valve seat. The balloon, when expanded thus functions to seal the plug to the urethra, bladder neck and bladder. Deflation of the plug for bladder evacuation, is easily accomplished by pulling a cord causing the removal of the ball from the valve seat towards the proximal end of the plug and out of the aperture, thus expelling the fluid contained within the balloon. Removal is then easily and comfortably accomplished by grasping a tab associated with said meatal plate, at which point the wearer can void. There is further provided a urethral plug assembly comprising a urethral plug with applicator and mirror for ease of insertion and inflation of the plug in a sterile manner.

Fluidly expandable urethral plug assembly which receives fluid from an

There is presented an assembly for prevention of urinary incontinence in humans, the assembly comprising an applicator and an elastomer body. The applicator is adapted to position the elastomer body in the urethra of a female or male and includes a support portion for retaining the elastomer body, and a manipulable portion for positioning the elastomer body in the urethra. There is further presented a method for preventing an unwanted discharge of urine, utilizing the aforesaid assembly.

Assembly and method for controlling urinary incontinence in humans

A device for the control of urinary incontinence comprising a urethral plug self-movable between a first condition in which the plug is relatively rigid and generally tubular, with a smaller diameter for travel through the orifice of the urethra, and a second condition in which the plug is flexible and expansible to a larger diameter for retaining the plug in a mammalian body and blocking the flow of urine. A larger diameter is achieved by exposure of a tube-like member of the plug to natural bodily conditions, resulting in an automatic expansion of the tube, whereupon the expansion causes the tube-like member to form a seal with the urethra, bladder neck or bladder wall. The plug further has a meatal plate for anchoring the plug in the urethra and preventing migration into the bladder. Removal of the plug for bladder evacuation is easily accomplished by grasping and pulling a tab associated with the meatal plate, or in another embodiment by pulling on a cord means associated with the meatal plate, causing the deformation of the expanded tube to a smaller diameter. In accordance with a further feature of the invention, there is provided a method for controlling incontinence in mammals.

Expandable urethral plug

A urethral plug assembly having a cooperating housing and inner member, the plug assembly possessing a contracted diameter for insertion and removal through the orifice of the urethra, and a larger, expanded diameter for blocking the flow of urine in the urethra, bladder neck and bladder. A larger diameter is achieved by mechanical deployment of the inner member, which results in the expansion of the housing, or in another embodiment, which results in the expansion of the inner member. A balloon is additionally expanded, thus sealing the plug assembly to the urethral, bladder neck and bladder wall. The plug assembly further has a meatal plate for anchoring the plug assembly in the urethra, preventing migration of the plug assembly into the bladder. Removal of the plug assembly for bladder evacuation, is easily accomplished by pulling a cord causing the contraction of the expanded housing or inner member, and grasping a tab associated with said meatal plate. In accordance with a further feature of the invention, there is provided a method for controlling incontinence in humans.

Mechanically actuated urethral plug assembly and method for controlling

A steerable guidewire for gently penetrating an occlusion within a vessel, with an elongated solid main guidewire body having selected stiffness characteristics along its length to allow the guidewire to be urged through a narrow, tortuous body lumen by application of forces at a proximal end, and an enlarged distal end portion having a diameter larger than portions of the guidewire proximal thereof including a soft polymeric element and a permanently deflected portion to enable steering of the guidewire.

Guidewire for crossing occlusions in blood vessels

A guidewire for penetrating an occlusion within a duct or vessel, such as a blood vessel, has an elongated main guidewire body of a small, first diameter. The guidewire is terminated at its distal end with an enlarged resilient tip portion having a lubricious outer surface, and is shaped and constructed to penetrate the occlusion. The guidewire body is constructed to be to be relatively flexible in the distal end corresponding to the enlarged tip and relatively stiffer in portions proximal thereof for manipulation of the wire from its proximal end to cause the distal tip portion to penetrate the occlusion and form a passage therein. In an embodiment, an outer sleeve is slid over the main body and butting against the proximal end of the enlarged tip portion contributes to axial stiffness of the combination to enable manipulation through the occlusion. After placement this sleeve is removed and a dilatation catheter is slid over the main body, and enters the occlusion behind the enlarged tip portion.

Growing community of inventors

Scituate, MA, United States of America

Paul D McLaughlin