The invention relates to a transpyloric device for accepting chyme from the stomach and conducting said chyme on in a bypass-like manner through a patient's duodenum; said device is held in place by balloon segments which sit on a preferably radially collapsible and self-erecting transpyloric conducting element; the filling level of the balloon segments, and thus the axial sealing force acting primarily on the shoulder surfaces of the pylorus or the surrounding area thereof, can be adjusted by the user, and the force applied to the stomach and duodenum structures adjoining the pylorus is reduced to a level that is permanently bearable for the organs even when the filling pressure of the segments rolling against each other is elevated. The invention also relates to an applicator for putting a bypass device of said type in place in the region of the transition from the stomach to the duodenum.

An implantable renal replacement therapy device may include: a first catheter configured to be inserted into a blood vessel in a subject's body; a pump in fluid communication with the first catheter, the pump is configured to pump subject's blood from the blood vessel; a filter in fluid communication with the pump, the filter is configured to: receive the subject's blood from the pump, and filter the received blood to provide a filtered blood and a filtrate liquid, wherein the filter is in fluid communication with the first catheter to cause an outflow of the filtered blood from the filter to the blood vessel; and a second catheter in fluid communication with the filter and configured to be inserted into an urinary bladder in the subject's body to cause an outflow of the filtrate liquid from the filter to the urinary bladder.

A positioning device configured for introduction within a body lumen. Some embodiments include a catheter shaft with a longitudinal axis; an expandable element coupled along a length of the shaft, the expandable element being substantially thin and flexible in an unexpanded state and exerting a gentle outward force in an expanded state; and a deflection mechanism located within the shaft, wherein the deflection mechanism is flexible when in a non-deflected state and wherein, in the deflected state, the deflection curves in a predetermined lateral direction such that the positioning device laterally deflects the body lumen. In some embodiments, the deflection is a lateral curve that moves the body lumen away from a surgical site, such as a cardiac ablation site.

A bifurcated dual-balloon catheter apparatus for deploying one or more stents to a bifurcated vessel or for use in angioplasty procedures involving bifurcated vessels. The apparatus is particularly suited for bifurcated vessels of the type having a main branch from which a side branch extends therefrom. The apparatus has a main branch balloon and a side branch balloon. A conduit is provided in the main branch balloon through which a portion of the side branch balloon extends. The first balloon is positionable within the main branch of the vessel while the distal portion of the second balloon is positionable within the side branch such that when the first and second balloons are inflated, the first balloon expands radially in the main branch while the distal portion of said second balloon maintains registration with the side branch by expanding radially therein.

Filtration systems with integrated filter element(s) forming portions of the wall of the filtration catheter are disclosed. The filtration catheters disclosed herein are designed to be used alone or in conjunction with another filter device to provide embolic protection of both carotid arteries. Occlusive element such as balloon is placed on the exterior of the filtration catheter to redirect blood flow in the vessels during the filtration process as well as to help anchor the filtration catheter inside the vessel. The integrated filter element(s) does not require collapsing thus significantly reduces the complexity of the filtration system retrieval process and the chances of releasing emboli back into the blood stream. The compact design of the filtration systems makes them particularly suitable for embolic protection during endovascular procedures on or close to the heart.

Systems and methods for selective auto-retroperfusion along with regional mild hypothermia. In at least one embodiment of a system for providing a retroperfusion therapy to a venous vessel of the present disclosure, the system comprises a catheter for controlling blood perfusion pressure, the catheter comprising a body having a proximal open end, a distal end, a lumen extending between the proximal open end and the distal end, and a plurality of orifices disposed thereon, each of the orifices in fluid communication with the lumen, and at least one expandable balloon, each of the at least one expandable balloons coupled with the body, having an interior that is in fluid communication with the lumen, and adapted to move between an expanded configuration and a deflated configuration, and a flow unit for regulating the flow and pressure of a bodily fluid, and a regional hypothermia system operably coupled to the catheter, the regional hypothermia system operable to reduce and/or regulate a temperature of the bodily fluid flowing therethrough.

Catheters with weeping balloons can be used for various medical purposes. For example, in some embodiments provided herein weeping balloons are used for catheter visualization devices. In some embodiments, weeping balloons are used to deliver therapeutic agents. Weeping balloons can include openings of a selected size and shape through which a fluid gradually flows or “weeps.” The design of the openings can affect performance characteristics such as, but not limited to, fluid flow rate, tear resistance, and mitigation of counter-flow.

An occlusion catheter system includes an inflation catheter member and an occlusion balloon. The proximal and distal balloon ends are connected to the inflation catheter between the proximal and distal catheter ends. A distal pressure sensor is attached to the inflation catheter member between the proximal balloon end and the atraumatic tip. An inflatable spine is connected to the inflation catheter. The proximal spine end is connected to the inflation catheter near the proximal balloon end and the distal spine end is connected to the inflation catheter near the distal balloon end. The occlusion balloon and the inflatable spine are configured to define blood flow channels with the internal surface and the external balloon surface when the occlusion catheter system is at least partially positioned in the vessel and the occlusion balloon and the inflatable spine are in a partially inflated configuration.

An intra-aortic dual balloon driving pump catheter device having a catheter; a first balloon and a second balloon respectively surrounding the catheter, being arranged successively along the longitudinal direction of the catheter, wherein the position of the first balloon is placed at the distal end of the catheter, and the second balloon is placed immediately adjacent to the proximal end of the first balloon; the first balloon and the second balloon are periodically expanded to a dimension that nearly blocks the aortic blood flow and contracted to a dimension that does not prevent the blood flow from passing through; wherein the first balloon periodically inflates in diastole and deflates in systole working as a pump, while the second balloon conversely deflates in systole and inflates in diastole functioning as a valve, altogether leading to blood pumping from contracting ventricle and keeping driving forward ahead in the aorta.

A carrying platform for moving a device within a conduit, the carrying platform comprising: a body configured to be moveable within the conduit; a number of clampers provided on the body and configured to releasably engage the conduit for immobilizing the carrying platform relative to the conduit; and a device engagement mechanism provided on the body and configured to releasably engage the device.