A sterilized medical device assembly comprises a medical device having a hydrophilic surface on at least a part thereof, such as a hydrophilic urinary catheter, and a package forming a closed compartment accommodating the medical device. The medical device is arranged in an activated state in the package, with the hydrophilic surface being wetted with a wetting fluid. In addition, a small amount of wetting liquid is freely arranged in the closed compartment of the package, and in direct contact with the hydrophilic surface of the medical device. The volume of the wetting liquid corresponds to between 0.01% and 10% of a volume of the closed compartment. The medical device assembly is steam sterilized, and it has been found that the extra small amount of free liquid is very efficient in ensuring a reliable and efficient steam sterilization.

Devices, system and methods for heating pelvic floor tissues are provided. The devices of the present invention can be used to apply heat to pelvic floor tissues such as rectal, vaginal, urethral and/or bladder tissues in order to treat disorders associated with such tissues.

Systems and methods for automated assessment and monitoring of bodily fluids are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system for provisioning a treatment composition to a bladder of a patient includes: an irrigation bag that carries the treatment composition; a catheter configured for connecting the irrigation bag to the bladder; a flow regulator configured for controlling a flow of the treatment composition from the irrigation bag to the bladder; and a drainage bag in fluid communication with the bladder through a drainage tubing of the catheter. The drainage tubing is configured for draining urine from the bladder. The system also includes: a first sensor for detecting a first amount of the treatment composition in the irrigation bag; a second sensor for detecting a second amount of urine in the drainage bag; a third sensor for detecting a concentration of particles in the urine carried by the drainage bag; and a controller.

A catheter for ultrasonic-driven bladder therapeutic agent delivery, including: a tube having a proximal expandable portion and a distal end, and at least one transducer sleeve accommodating at least one ultrasound transducer mounted on the tube between the proximal expandable portion and the distal end.

A catheter includes an elongated tube having a distal portion having a distal end and a sidewall defining at least one drainage lumen. The sidewall includes a drainage portion which allows fluid to pass through the sidewall and into the drainage lumen. The catheter also includes a permeable tissue support. The tissue support is configured to be deployed in the urinary tract to maintain the distal end of the elongated tube at a predetermined position in a bladder, a ureter, a renal pelvis, or a kidney of the patient. When deployed, the permeable tissue support defines a three-dimensional shape of sufficient size to permit flow of at least a portion of fluid from the urinary tract through the tissue support and drainage portion of the elongated tube to the at least one drainage lumen.

A Direct Sodium Removal method, apparatus and solution for treating patients in heart failure, and having a glomerular filtration rate greater than 15 mL/min/1.73 m.sup.2, or residual kidney function corresponding to normal to CKD Stage 4, is provided in which a no or low sodium DSR infusate is administered to the peritoneal cavity for a predetermined dwell period and then removed, thereby removing sodium from the body. The resulting elimination of fluid from the patient by i) functioning of the kidneys through urination and ii) direct removal of osmotic ultrafiltrate from the peritoneal cavity, restores serum sodium concentrations to healthy levels and thereby reduces fluid overload in the patient.

An optical therapeutic apparatus includes: a liquid discharge catheter including a first tubular member; a balloon catheter including a shaft, a balloon and a second tubular member; and a light irradiation body. The balloon is positioned such that the balloon is exposed from a distal end of the liquid discharge catheter by bringing the second tubular member into contact with the first tubular member.

A cannula comprising a hollow tube made of a biocompatible, thermoplastic polymer, memory shape material, tipped with an injection needle at it distal end, assumes desired shapes as it distally emerges from a lumen or channel of an instrument such as an introducer or endoscope. The desires shape includes a curvature conforming to an inverse tangent function. The cannula may be supplied alone, with or without an injection needle, and in a sterile pouch, for use with a device of an user's choice that has a suitable lumen or channel to guide the cannula, of the cannula may be used without such an instrument.

Devices and methods are provided to facilitate self-catheterization of a urethra. In an exemplary embodiment, the device includes an elongate anchor member comprising a proximal end and a rounded distal end to facilitate insertion into a user's vagina, a bridge extending laterally from an intermediate location of the anchor member, a guide on the bridge spaced apart from the anchor member such that the guide is aligned with the user's urethra, the guide including a passage therethrough sized to receive a urinary catheter therethrough, and a handle on the proximal end of the anchor member to facilitate manipulation by the user and consistent, accurate alignment of the guide.

A catheter device and manufacturing process for manufacturing the catheter device, wherein the catheter device has a halo-shaped coiled portion extending away from a perpendicular stem portion through a swan neck portion. Eyelets on the halo coil portion and swan neck portion facilitate flow out of the bladder through the catheter device vertical to the catheter, rather than perpendicularly as is the case with existing catheters. The catheter device is formed by using a straight catheter tube, heating and cooling it within a formed mold to have the halo coil and swan neck, such that it can be straightened using a pusher and stylet, inserted into the body while straightened, and thereafter return to its coiled shape when the stylet is removed.