Various systems and methods are provided for reducing pressure at an outflow of a duct such as the thoracic duct or the lymphatic duct. In one embodiment, an indwelling catheter can be configured to be at least partially implanted within a vein of a patient in the vicinity of an outflow port of a duct of the lymphatic system. The catheter can include first and second restrictors each configured to at least partially occlude the vein within which the catheter is implanted and thus to restrict fluid flow within the vein when the restrictors are activated. The restrictors can each be configured to move between an activated configuration, in which the restrictor occludes the vein, and a relaxed configuration, in which the restrictor does not occlude the vein. The catheter can include a pump, such as an axial motor pump, configured to pump fluid through the catheter.

The invention provides intravascular devices for treating certain medical conditions such as edema without causing thrombosis. The intravascular devices of the disclosure include non-thrombogenic surfaces that improve blood compatibility by reducing device-related thrombus formation and inflammatory reactions. The non-thrombogenic surfaces may include surface topographies (e.g., surface roughness) and modified chemistries (e.g., coatings and/or treatments), which prevent thrombosis by reducing local shear forces and inhibiting adhesion of blood clotting factors.

The invention provides intravascular devices for treating certain medical conditions such as edema without causing thrombosis. The intravascular devices of the disclosure include non-thrombogenic surfaces that improve blood compatibility by reducing device-related thrombus formation and inflammatory reactions. The non-thrombogenic surfaces may include surface topographies (e.g., surface roughness) and modified chemistries (e.g., coatings and/or treatments), which prevent thrombosis by reducing local shear forces and inhibiting adhesion of blood clotting factors.

Various systems and methods are provided for reducing pressure at an outflow of a duct, such as the thoracic duct or the lymphatic duct, for example, the right lymphatic duct. A catheter system can be configured to be at least partially implanted within a vein of a patient in the vicinity of an outflow port of a duct of the lymphatic system. The catheter system includes first and second selectively deployable restriction members each configured to be activated to at least partially occlude the vein within which the catheter is implanted and to thus restrict fluid within a portion of the vein. The catheter system includes an impeller configured to be driven by a motor to induce a low pressure zone between the restriction members by causing blood to be pumped through the catheter when the restriction members occlude the vein.

Systems and methods are provided for performing a medical procedure within a patient's body that involves a thoracic duct including an ostium communicating with the patient's venous system. A distal end of a catheter is introduced through the patient's venous system into a body lumen adjacent the ostium of the thoracic duct. An expandable member on the distal end of the tubular member may be expanded adjacent the ostium, e.g., within the body lumen or the thoracic duct itself, and used to isolate the thoracic duct from the body lumen, whereupon a medical procedure may be performed via the thoracic duct. For example, lymphatic fluid may be removed from the thoracic duct through a lumen of the tubular member and/or one or more agents may be introduced into the thoracic duct through the tubular member.

Devices and methods of treating fluid retention caused by congestive heart failure or other conditions resulting in edema, lymphoedema, or significant fluid retention (e.g., deep vein thrombosis, cellulitis, venous stasis insufficiency, or damage to the lymphatic network) are described. Specifically, a treatment device is used to create a passage or cannula between the lymphatic system (or other area of the body) and an external drainage device. This device can be only temporarily located in the patient or can be implanted within the patient for longer periods of time. The physician can safely and reliably remove excess fluid from the body via the device and optionally inject other treatment agents.

An apparatus for draining lymph into vein includes a drainage device. The drainage device includes a chamber, an osmosis membrane, a first catheter, a second sensing element, and a pump. The chamber includes a chamber wall, wherein a chamber space is formed by the chamber wall, and a first opening is formed on the chamber wall. The osmosis membrane disposed on the first opening. One end of the first catheter connects to the chamber space, and the other end of the first catheter connects with a vein. The second sensing element receives a radio wave emitted by a first sensing element of a power supply device to send an electrical signal. The pump is disposed in the chamber and connecting to the second sensing element, wherein a negative pressure in the chamber space is generated by the pump to drain lymph into the vein via the first catheter.

The disclosure relates to devices and methods for the treatment of edema using a purge-free system. The invention provides devices and methods useful for treating edema by means of an indwelling catheter that is placed in a blood vessel of a patient and used to pump blood to cause a decrease in pressure at an outlet of a lymphatic duct. The catheter pumps blood by means of an impeller but is purge-free in that the catheter does not include a system for purging or flushing catheter components with a purge fluid. The purge-free catheter avoids blood-related mechanical complications such as clotting or thrombosis by means of an impermeable sleeve or shroud that protects moving parts of the impeller drive system.

Systems, methods, and devices are provided for the treatment of edema. In one aspect a method for implanting an indwelling catheter within a vein of a patient is provided. The catheter can extend from a position upstream of at least one outflow port of a duct of the lymph system to a terminal position downstream of the at least one outflow port. In use, a first restriction can be created within the vein proximal to a distal region of the catheter. The first restriction can define a localized low pressure zone distal of the restriction and within a portion of the vein housing the catheter. The low pressure zone can be adjacent to the at least one outflow port to enable fluid to pass from the at least one lymph duct outflow port into the vein.

Various systems and methods are provided for reducing pressure at an outflow of a duct such as the thoracic duct or the lymphatic duct. In one embodiment, an indwelling catheter can be configured to be at least partially implanted within a vein of a patient in the vicinity of an outflow port of a duct of the lymphatic system. The catheter can include first and second restrictors each configured to at least partially occlude the vein within which the catheter is implanted and thus to restrict fluid flow within the vein when the restrictors are activated. The restrictors can each be configured to move between an activated configuration, in which the restrictor occludes the vein, and a relaxed configuration, in which the restrictor does not occlude the vein. The catheter can include a pump, such as an axial motor pump, configured to pump fluid through the catheter.