238 results about "Inferior vena cava" patented technology

Disclosed is an expandable transluminal sheath, for introduction into the body while in a first, low cross-sectional area configuration, and subsequent expansion of at least a part of the distal end of the sheath to a second, enlarged cross-sectional configuration. The sheath is configured for use in the vascular system. The access route is through the inferior vena cava to the right atrium, where a trans-septal puncture, followed by advancement of the catheter is completed. The distal end of the sheath is maintained in the first, low cross-sectional configuration during advancement through the atrial septum into the left atrium. The distal end of the sheath is expanded using a radial dilator. In one application, the sheath is utilized to provide access for a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure such as electrophysiological mapping of the heart, radio-frequency ablation of left atrial tissue, placement of atrial implants, valve repair, or the like.

Apparatus and methods for performing retrograde perfusion, especially during cardiopulmonary bypass operations, including dedicated pediatric scaled apparatus for retrograde perfusion of an adult human organ, organ system, or limb, especially the brain, employing small scale oxygenators and heat exchangers such as are designed for pediatric surgery; also including methods and apparatus for retrograde cerebral perfusion, using nonselective infravalvular cannulation of the superior vena cava, estimating the efficacy of cerebral perfusion by monitoring fluid flow across a valve of an internal jugular vein, modification of inflow pressure and administration of pharmacologic agents, and increasing fluid flow into a brain by occlusion of an inferior vena cava distal to its junction with an azygos vein.

A method of inserting a dialysis catheter into a patient comprising the steps of inserting a guidewire into the jugular vein of the patient through the superior vena cava and into the inferior vena cava, providing a trocar having a lumen and a dissecting tip, inserting the trocar to enter an incision in the patient and to create a subcutaneous tissue tunnel, threading the guidewire through the lumen of the trocar so the guidewire extends through the incision, providing a dialysis catheter having first and second lumens, removing the trocar, and inserting the dialysis catheter over the guidewire through the incision and through the jugular vein and superior vena cava into the right atrium.

An inferior vena cava filter (340) for use in the inferior vena cava (4) to capture thrombus (8) passing through the inferior vena cava (4) towards the heart and lungs to prevent pulmonary embolism comprises a proximal support hoop (302), a distal support hoop (312) and a plurality of support struts (303) extending between the proximal support hoop (302) and the distal support hoop (312). The filter (340) also comprises a plurality of capture arms (121) which are movable from a capturing configuration to an open configuration. The capture arms (121) are biased towards the open configuration. A biodegradable suture holds the capture arms (121) in the capturing configuration.

A temporary inferior vena cava filter including a guidewire and a doublet cage filter distally located on the guidewire. The doublet cage filter has a proximal cage filter and a distal cage filter, both of resilient and biased toward their expanded or deployed state. The proximal and distal cage filters may be collapsed by actuation, preferably with a sheath. A method of protecting from pulmonary embolism during treatment of a deep vein thrombosis is disclosed. The doublet cage provides stability when deployed in the inferior vena cava, is readily retrieved and readily manufactured. A method of manufacturing the doublet cage filter assembly is also disclosed and involves a nitinol tube with plural cuts to form struts which are heat treated in an expanded state.

Disclosed is an expandable transluminal sheath, for introduction into the body while in a first, low cross-sectional area configuration, and subsequent expansion of at least a part of the distal end of the sheath to a second, enlarged cross-sectional configuration. The sheath is configured for use in the vascular system and has utility in the performance of procedures in the left atrium. The access route is through the inferior vena cava to the right atrium, where a trans-septal puncture, followed by advancement of the catheter is completed. The distal end of the sheath is maintained in the first, low cross-sectional configuration during advancement to the right atrium and through the atrial septum into the left atrium. The distal end of the sheath is subsequently expanded using a radial dilatation device. In an exemplary application, the sheath is utilized to provide access for a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure such as electrophysiological mapping of the heart, radio-frequency ablation of left atrial tissue, placement of left atrial implants, mitral valve repair, or the like.

Apparatus and methods for cooling selected regions within a body are described herein. An implantable cooling system is used to cool regions of the brain, spinal cord, fibrous nerve bodies, e.g., vagus nerve, etc. down to about 30° C. to diminish nerve impulses which control seizures or chronic pain. The system includes an implantable unit containing a pumping mechanism and / or various control electronics. It also has a heat exchanger attachable to a tubular body organ, such as the superior vena cava or the inferior vena cava, through which the heat is effectively dissipated. Also included is a heat pump such as a Peltier junction configured to be placed into contact with the region of tissue to be cooled. The heated portion of the Peltier junction is cooled by a liquid heat transfer medium which absorbs the heat from the junction and dissipates it into the tubular body organ.

Apparatus (20) for treating a subject (30) suffering from spontaneous atrial fibrillation includes an electrode device (22), adapted to be coupled to a site of the subject (30) selected from the list consisting of: a vagus nerve (24) of the subject (30), an epicardial fat pad of the subject (30), a pulmonary vein of the subject (30), a carotid artery of the subject (30), a carotid sinus of the subject (30), a vena cava vein of the subject (30), and an internal jugular vein of the subject (30), and a control unit (32), adapted to drive the electrode device (22) to apply an electrical current to the site, and to configure the current to maintain the spontaneous AF for at least about 24 hours, so as to modify blood flow within the atria and reduce risk of thromboembolic events.

The present invention relates generally to a medical device and method of use, and more specifically to a method and apparatus with coaxial components used to treat venous diseases. The apparatus according to various embodiments operates as an inferior vena cava filter, a clot puller, a clot shredder, and as a prosthetic venous valve.

Devices and methods for reshaping a mitral valve annulus are provided. One device according to the invention is configured for deployment in the right atrium and is shaped to apply a force along the atrial septum. The device causes the atrial septum to deform and push the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve in a posterior direction for reducing mitral valve regurgitation. Another embodiment of a device is deployed in the left ventricular outflow tract at a location adjacent the aortic valve. The device may be expandable for urging the anterior leaflet toward the posterior leaflet. Another embodiment of the device includes a first anchor, a second anchor, and a bridge, with the bridge having sufficient length to reach from the coronary sinus to the right atrium and / or superior or inferior vena cava. In a further embodiment a device includes a middle anchor positioned on the bridge between the distal and proximal anchors.

A long-term implantable arterio-venous shunt device or creation of a fistula is provided that can be used as a therapeutic method for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The shunt device is implanted between an artery and a vein, preferably between a peripheral artery and the inferior vena cava. The shunt device and method of creating a fistula increases cardiac output and decreases the systemic vascular resistance and allows a blood flow rate through the shunt device of at least 5 ml / min after the implantation. Based on the effects of the method and device to the respiratory, cardiac and circulatory system, the method and device are beneficial as a therapy to patients with problems or conditions related to these systems.

Blood filters (10a, 10b) sized and configured to be positioned within a vascular vessel include a plurality of anchoring arms (22) having a removable sleeve (22-2) for temporarily anchoring the blood filter to a vessel wall. In especially preferred embodiments, the removable sleeve (22-2) is formed of bioabsorbable material. When the filter (10a, 10b) is deployed, it is this removable sleeve (22-2) which comes into contact with the inner tissue wall of the patient's blood vessel (typically the inferior vena cava). When it is desired to remove the filter, endothelization of the sleeve (22-2) has typically occurred but since the sleeves are a removable (separable) component part of the anchoring arms (22), the entire filter device (10a, 10b) can be retrieved thereby leaving the endothelized sleeves (22-2) remaining in place on the interior wall of the patient's vascular vesse. However, such sleeves (22-2) will be absorbed over time (preferably by means of hydrolysis) since they are formed of a bioabsorbable polymeric material. In such a manner, the filters (10a, 10b) of the present invention allow relatively easy retrieval while minimizing (if not preventing entirely) harm to the vascular endothelium.

A shunt rivet for implantation in the aorta and inferior vena cava to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and a method of treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

A shunt rivet for implantation in the aorta and inferior vena cava to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and a method of treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

An indwelling RF catheter achieves warming of patients by dielectric heating of blood or other bodily fluids. In one example, the catheter is deployed in a suitable blood vessel, such as the inferior vena cava. The catheter design includes an emitter structure electrically coupled to an RF generator, which provides a source of RF power. The emitter structure, distally located upon the catheter, administers electromagnetic radiation to the blood within the patient, thereby creating heat due to the dielectric qualities of blood. As blood heated by the indwelling RF catheter courses through the patient's body, the patient's body is systemically warmed, raising the body core temperature.

A long-term implantable arterio-venous shunt device is provided that can be used as a therapeutic method. The shunt device is implanted between an artery and a vein, preferably between the aorta and the inferior vena cava. The shunt device decreases the systemic vascular resistance and allows a blood flow rate through the shunt device of at least 5 ml / min after the implantation. The blood flow rate could be controlled either via an open loop or a closed loop control means. The shunt device could also be a self-adjustable shunt device to self-adjust its structure to control the blood flow rate through its lumen. Based on the effects of the shunt device to the respiratory, cardiac and circulatory system, the implantable shunt device could be beneficial as a therapy to patients with problems or conditions related to these systems.

A filter having a first set of members and a second set of members defining a trap sized to fit into a blood vessel. Each of the first and second members are configured to resiliently extend from the trap. At least one of the first set of members includes a first surface for engaging the vessel wall such that the at least one of the first set of members resists downstream movement within the vessel. At least one of the second set of members includes a second surface for engaging the vessel wall such that the at least one second member resists upstream movement within the vessel.

Apparatus (20) for treating a subject (30) suffering from spontaneous atrial fibrillation includes an electrode device (22), adapted to be coupled to a site of the subject (30) selected from the list consisting of: a vagus nerve (24) of the subject (30), an epicardial fat pad of the subject (30), a pulmonary vein of the subject (30), a carotid artery of the subject (30), a carotid sinus of the subject (30), a vena cava vein of the subject (30), and an internal jugular vein of the subject (30), and a control unit (32), adapted to drive the electrode device (22) to apply an electrical current to the site, and to configure the current to maintain the spontaneous AF for at least about 24 hours, so as to modify blood flow within the atria and reduce risk of thromboembolic events.

The instant invention is directed toward an ablation catheter and sheath incorporating wire rail system. The catheter may have a combination of rigid and flexible components to orient an ablation electrode at the distal tip toward the target tissue. The wire rail acts to guide an ablation tip along the tissue to aid in the formation of spot or continuous linear lesions on a trabecular surface, e.g., in the right atrium along the isthmus between the ostium of the inferior vena cava and the tricuspid valve.

Apparatus, systems, and methods in which a catheter-based pump is used are disclosed. The catheter-based pump is placed within the inferior vena cava of a patient. The catheter-based pump has a variable obstructor, such as a balloon or some other artificial obstruction, which is sized and dimensioned to compartmentalize the inferior vena cava into an upstream region and a downstream region of the inferior vena cava. The catheter-based pump is configured to pump blood from the upstream region to a fluid line that discharges blood to a discharge location in the downstream region. Thus, a suitable pressure gradient across the organ is provided, which can benefit organ function.

The present invention relates to a vascular filter including a coiled wire formed of a shape memory material for implantation into a vessel. The vascular filter captures particulates within the blood flow in the vessel, without substantially interfering with the normal blood flow. Prior to implantation, the coiled wire is generally elongated and thereafter it reverts to a predetermined shape that is suitable for filtering the blood flow. The predetermined shape of the vascular filter includes a plurality of loops coaxially disposed about a longitudinal axis and has a conical portion and a cylindrical portion.

A high-simulation laparoscopic surgery simulated training device comprises a simulated human abdomen unit, an animal liver and a simulated canal system, wherein the simulated human abdomen unit is used for simulating the human abdomen skin through silica gel and composed of anterior abdominal wall skin and back skin which can be separated from each other, the anterior abdominal wall skin and the back skin are connected through sealing buckles, and thus the seal performance of the whole simulated human abdomen is guaranteed; the animal liver is arranged in the simulated human abdomen unit; the simulated canal system is arranged in the simulated human abdomen unit and connected with the animal liver. According to the high-simulation laparoscopic surgery simulated training device, the abdominal skin is simulated through sealing silica gel, inflation is performed through a poking clip to form the pneumoperitoneum, the human blood circulation in the physiological state is achieved through a pumping set, the real animal liver is anastomosed with the postcava, the portal vein, the hepatic artery and the biliary tract of a human simulator training system through the postcava, the portal vein, the hepatic artery and the biliary tract, and thus various simple or complex laparoscopic surgery training items can be carried out.