Systems and methods for forming an anastomosis between two adjacent walls of a digestive tract are provided. The system can include first and second magnetic implants configured to magnetically couple through two adjacent walls of the digestive tract to compress a portion of the two adjacent walls therebetween and form a necrotic area that becomes surrounded by a scarred edge following a healing time period. The magnetic implant can include a magnetic member and a non-magnetic member. The system can include a retention member extending outwardly from a corresponding one of the first and second magnetic implants, the retention member being configured to retain the magnetic implants in position and prevent passage thereof through the necrotic area during the healing time period, and to maintain an engagement between the magnetic member and the non-magnetic member during the healing time period and enable disengagement thereof following the healing time period.

Systems and methods for delivering a device for regulating blood pressure between a patient's left atrium and right atrium are provided. The delivery apparatus may include a first catheter, a hub having one or more engagers disposed thereon configured to releasably engage with a first expandable end of the shunt in a contracted delivery state within a lumen of a sheath, and a second catheter extending through a center lumen of the first catheter and the hub, wherein the first catheter, the hub, and the second catheter are independently moveable relative to the sheath. The inventive devices may reduce left atrial pressure and left ventricular end diastolic pressure, and may increase cardiac output, increase ejection fraction, relieve pulmonary congestion, and lower pulmonary artery pressure, among other benefits. The inventive devices may be used, for example, to treat subjects having heart failure, pulmonary congestion, or myocardial infarction, among other pathologies.

Devices and methods divert blood flow from a first vessel to a second vessel and maintain blood flow in the first vessel. The device includes a first segment and a second segment. The first segment is configured to anchor in the first vessel. The first segment includes a window to allow blood to flow into the first segment, through the window, and distal in the first vessel. The second segment is configured to anchor in the second vessel. The second segment is configured to allow blood to flow into the first segment, through the second segment, and into the second vessel.

The present technology is generally directed to interatrial shunting systems and associated devices and methods. For example, a system configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include a shunting element implantable into a patient at or adjacent a septal wall. The shunting element can have a lumen that fluidly connects a left atrium and a right atrium of the patient to facilitate blood flow therebetween when the shunting element is implanted. In some embodiments, the system further includes a flow control element to selectively control blood flow between the left atrium and the right atrium.

An implantable flow-restricting device, extending along a longitudinal extent which need not be linear, and having a first portion and a second portion with a saddle region therebetween. At least one of the first or second portions may be angled with respect to the saddle region to resist migration of the device. At least one of the first or second portions may be configured to maintain a distance from a region of the anatomical structure in which such portion is positioned. An occluder, such as an expandable occluder, may be associated with the flow-restricting device, such as with one of the first or second portions thereof. The occluder may serve to block passage of material through the anatomical passage in which the saddle region is positioned, prevent migration of the device (e.g., through such passage), and/or increase volume occupied by the device.

Methods and apparatus for safely forming anastomoses comprise magnetic members configured to accommodate different tissue types and patients of differing size and weight. The magnetic members may comprise first and second magnetic members configured to engage each other with a force sufficient to form anastomosis while taking a sufficiently long time to allow the intestinal walls to fuse together. The first and second magnetic members can be configured to form anastomoses between both similar and different types of intestinal tissue. An elongate surgical placement instrument can be configured to engage and manipulate the first and second magnet members through the intestinal wall from outside the intestinal wall in order to place each of the magnetic members at desired locations.

A system and a method are disclosed for forming an anastomosis between a first layer of tissue and a second layer of tissue of a patient's body. The system includes a first anastomosis device component and a second anastomosis device component configured to interact with the first anastomosis device component. The first anastomosis device component is configured to be delivered to a first lumen inside the patient's body. The second anastomosis device component is configured to be delivered to a second lumen inside the patient's body. The second anastomosis device includes one or more sensors configured to capture sensor data for determining an alignment of the second anastomosis device component relative to the first anastomosis device component, or for characterizing the position or orientation of the second anastomosis device component in three-dimensional space.

Systems, apparatus, and methods are described for treatment of varicocele and associated conditions. In some embodiments, systems, apparatus, and methods described herein can include forming one or more fluid connections or fistulas between blood vessels such as a gonadal vein (e.g., spermatic vein, ovarian vein) and surrounding veins. In some embodiments, systems, apparatus, and methods described herein can include occluding one or more blood vessels such as a gonadal vein (e.g., spermatic vein, ovarian vein). In some embodiments, systems, apparatus and methods described herein relate to flow diverters, replacement valves, etc., e.g., for treatment of varicocele and associated conditions.

The present technology relates to interatrial shunting systems and methods. In some embodiments, the present technology includes interatrial shunting systems that include a shunting element having a lumen extending therethrough that is configured to fluidly couple the left atrium and the right atrium when the shunting element is implanted in a patient. The system can also include an energy receiving component for receiving energy from an energy source positioned external to the body, an energy storage component for storing the received energy, and/or a flow control mechanism for adjusting a geometry of the lumen.

The invention includes an improved flow graft. The graft has a portion where the radius r expands with length L over the portion, so that r.sup.n/L is a constant in that portion, where n≥4.0, or 1<n<4. It is preferred that the graft has a beginning section that has constant diameter. The invention also includes a method of designing such an expanding graft to suit the application, such as in the venous system, the arterial system, or for dialysis. The invention also includes near constant conductance stents whose radius r can grow with length, so the R.sup.n/L is constant where n>4.