We claim:
1. A method for treating prostate disease, chronic urethritis or strictural disease comprising
applying a polymeric material to the walls of the lower urinary tract, cavity or the urethra lining.
2. The method of claim 1 comprising administering an adhesive polymeric material within the cavity.
3. The method of claim 1 comprising administering a polymeric material which provides mechanical or structural support to the prostate or urethra.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the polymeric material has controlled permeability.
5. The method of claim 3 wherein the polymeric material forms a lining or support structure within the urethra.
6. The method of claim 4 wherein the polymeric material forms a barrier effective to decrease inflammation of the urethra.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the polymeric material further comprises agents selected from the group consisting of prophylactic, diagnostic and therapeutic agents.
8. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a stent or catheter having the polymeric material forming a coating thereon.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the polymeric material is biodegradable.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the polymeric material is applied as a liquid and solidified in situ.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the polymeric material is polymerized in situ.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein the polymeric material is configured by conductive heat, resistance heating, radiofrequency heating, microwave heating, electrochemical heating, light absorbance or generation, infrared, fiberoptics, ultrasound or a combination thereof to conform the polymeric material to the tissue surface.
14. The method of claim 10 wherein the polymeric material is applied from a catheter.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the polymeric form is polymerized by application of light from the catheter.
16. A polymeric form for application to the walls of the lower urinary tract, cavity or the urethra lining using a device having an expandible element to conform the polymeric form to the walls.
17. The form of claim 16 wherein the form is a sheet.
18. The form of claim 17 wherein the sheet forms a cone, convex three-dimensional shape or pear shape.
19. The form of claim 16 where the sheet is a solid, mesh, or porous form.
20. The form of claim 16 further comprising regions or structures providing mechanical support or having different mechanical or chemical properties.
21. The form of claim 16 further comprising a bioactive agent.
22. The form of claim 21 wherein the bioactive agent is selected from the group consisting of hemostatics, antibiotics, chemotherapeutics, antiinflammatories, and cells.
23. A catheter system comprising a guide wire, an expandible element to deploy a polymeric form to the walls of the lower urinary tract, cavity or the urethra lining, a polymeric form, and a covering sheath for the expandible element.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A joystick input device comprising:
a casing having a tiltable-component supporter;
a tiltable component held by the tiltable-component supporter and extending in a direction away from a tilt center;
tilt-detecting means for detecting a state of tilting of the tiltable component;
a pushable component held by the tiltable component;
push-detecting means for detecting a state of pushing of the pushable component; and
an operation component for performing a tilt operation of the tiltable component and a push operation of the pushable component,
wherein the casing has an operation-regulating portion disposed away from the tilt center, and
the operation-regulating portion comprising
a pushable-component through-hole configured to receive a leading edge of the pushable component
a pushable-component stopping portion disposed around a peripheral portion of the pushable-component through-hole,
wherein the operation-regulating portion prevents the tilt operation when the pushable component is received through the pushable-component through-hole, and
wherein the operation-regulating portion prevents the push operation when the tiltable component is tilted, to prevent simultaneous pushing and tilting operations.
2. The joystick input device according to claim 1, wherein the operation-regulating portion is disposed adjacent to the operation component away from the tilt center.
3. The joystick input device according to claim 2, wherein the tiltable-component supporter includes the operation-regulating portion having the pushable-component through-hole and the pushable-component stopping portion at a spherical sliding contact face thereof, and a sliding portion of the tiltable component slides on the sliding contact face so that the tiltable component is tiltably held.
4. A joystick input device comprising:
a tiltable component having a tilt shaft and driving legs extending radially from an end of the tilt shaft;
tilt-detecting means for detecting a direction of tilting of the tiltable component, the tilt-detecting means being driven by the driving legs;
a tilt-operation knob attached to an opposing end of the tilt shaft; and
a casing accommodating the driving legs and the tilt-detecting means,
wherein the joystick input device is mounted to a panel having a cylindrical input-device holding portion with the tilt-operation knob exposed;
a panel-mounting portion extending in an axial direction of the tilt shaft, accommodating the tilt shaft, and being inserted into the cylindrical input-device holding portion of the panel is mounted to the casing; and
wherein an outer diameter of the panel-mounting portion is smaller than a length and width of the casing, and the joystick input device is mounted to the panel having an overhanging portion covering a multilevel section between the panel-mounting portion and the casing.
5. The joystick input device according to claim 4 wherein the joystick input device is mounted to the panel having a projecting portion protruding from the overhanging portion in a longitudinal direction of the panel-mounting portion.
6. The joystick input device according to claim 5, further comprising:
a cylindrical rotatable unit accommodated inside the panel-mounting portion; and
a turning knob connected to the rotatable unit and disposed between the projecting portion and the tilt-operation knob.