Implantable drug delivery devices include a housing having a closed drug reservoir lumen bounded by a first wall structure and a hydrophilic second wall structure, and a drug contained in the drug reservoir lumen, wherein the first wall structure is impermeable to the drug and the second wall structure is permeable to the drug. Methods of providing controlled release of drug to a patient include deploying a drug delivery device in the patient releasing a drug from the drug reservoir lumen via diffusion through the second wall structure.

The invention provides methods of measuring the progression and effectiveness of a course of treatment of bladder cancer in a subject diagnosed with a bladder cancer, by applying a physiologically acceptable dye to the tumor and measuring the degree of progression and effectiveness of the course of treatment of the bladder cancer.

A catheter configured to be deployed in a urinary tract of a patient includes a proximal portion configured to pass through a percutaneous opening and a distal portion including a retention portion. The retention portion is configured to be deployed in a kidney, renal pelvis, and/or bladder of the patient. The retention portion includes one or more protected drainage holes, ports or perforations and is configured, when deployed, to establish an outer periphery or protective surface area that inhibits mucosal tissue from occluding the one or more protected drainage holes, ports, or perforations upon application of negative pressure through the catheter.

A catheter having an elongated tube with a central lumen, a proximal end, and a distal end terminating in a tip; a balloon and a balloon lumen that is in fluid communication with the balloon, the balloon being situated at a point along the elongated tube between the proximal and distal ends of the elongated tube; and a catheter hub that is connected to the proximal end of the elongated tube, the catheter hub being in fluid communication with the central lumen and the balloon lumen. The elongated tube has one or more side holes between the balloon and the tip of the distal end of the elongated tube or an end hole at the tip of the elongated tube. The elongated tube also has one or more side holes between the balloon and the hub. There is no fluid communication between the central lumen and the balloon lumen.

The present disclosure describes devices and methods for treating disorders in a hollow body organ by ablating the tissue therein. At least one set of bipolar electrodes is deployed in the hollow body organ to contact the inner wall of the organ. In the deployed position, each positive electrode is positioned in a location substantially opposite each negative electrode. The tissue contact areas of the positive and negative electrodes are substantially the same and the electrodes are separated from one another by a distance of at least 10 times the width of each of the electrodes. The electrodes thereby produce lesions that are substantially identical to one another and also similar to those produced with monopolar electrodes. The electrodes are used to produce an ablation pattern that can electrically isolate regions of the hollow body organ, thereby treating the disorder(s).

Ureteral or bladder catheters are provided, including (a) a proximal portion; and (b) a distal portion, the distal portion including a retention portion that includes one or more protected drainage holes, ports or perforations and is configured to establish an outer periphery or protective surface area that inhibits mucosal tissue from occluding the one or more protected drainage holes, ports or perforations upon application of negative pressure through the catheter. Systems, kits and methods for inducing negative pressure to increase renal function also are provided.

A catheter connector includes an inner wall that defines an interior of the catheter connector and is transmissive to ultraviolet (UV) light. An outer wall defines an exterior of the catheter connector. One or a plurality of UV light sources is disposed between the inner wall and the outer wall or on the outer wall positioned to emit UV light into the interior of the catheter connector. A flow sensor is provided for sensing a flow of fluid in the interior of the catheter connector, and circuitry electrically connects the UV light sources, the flow sensor and a power source, such that electrical power is supplied to the UV light sources when a fluid flows through the interior of the catheter connector.

A coated urinary catheter or urinary stent device includes a urinary catheter or stent which, in a deployed position, includes or defines a protective surface area and a protected surface area and a coating upon at least a portion of the protective surface area. The coating includes a lubricant and an antimicrobial and/or pH buffering material. The device is configured such that, upon application of negative pressure to the catheter or stent, tissue of a urinary tract of a patient conforms or collapses onto the protective surface area and is thereby prevented or inhibited from occluding one or more protected drainage holes, ports or perforations of the catheter or stent.

Devices, systems, and methods herein relate to performing dialysis to manage a chronic condition such as end-stage renal disease. These systems and methods may allow a patient to orally ingest a potable dialysate and excrete the dialysate via the urinary tract. In some variations, a method may include delivering a dialysate via the esophagus of a patient and draining the dialysate into a bladder of the patient. Delivering the dialysate may further comprise delivering the dialysate through the nasopharynx or oropharynx. Delivering the dialysate through the oropharynx may comprise the patient drinking the dialysate.

A compact catheter assembly and methods of making such a catheter are disclosed. The catheter assembly incudes a receiver and a catheter sub-assembly. The catheter sub-assembly includes a gripping member and a catheter tube carried by the gripping member.