This invention relates to coated mesoporous nanoparticles (MSN). The coating material is an ultrasound-responsive material (for example a polymer) and it acts as a control layer for blocking/release of material loaded in the pores of the MSN.

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. A catheter system can include a catheter shaft configured to be at least partially implantable within a patient's vein, a flexible membrane attached to the catheter shaft, the flexible membrane being a collapsible, tube-like member having a lumen extending therethrough, and a single selectively deployable restriction member formed over a portion of the flexible membrane at substantially a midpoint between a proximal end of the flexible membrane and a distal end of the flexible membrane, the restriction member being configured to control a size of the lumen so as to direct a controlled volume of fluid from an upstream side of the restriction member to a downstream side the restriction member.

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.

System and methods are provided for harvesting one or more organs, e.g., a lung from a donor body. In one embodiment, a distal end of a tubular member is introduced into the donor body's vasculature via a percutaneous access site, and the tubular member is manipulated until the distal end of the tubular member is disposed within the thoracic duct. Fluid is removed from the thoracic duct through the tubular member to a location exterior to the patient's body, and one or more organs are removed from the donor body. Optionally, one or more parameters within the thoracic duct or other parameters of the donor body may be monitored and fluid removal may be adjusted to reduce fluid accumulation within the one or more organs.

A drug delivery device configured to simultaneously interface with a scala tympani and a scala vestibuli of a cochlea, wherein the device can be configured to deliver drug to the cochlea at least in part via a post introduction non-diffusion based delivery, and wherein the device can be configured to induce complete circuit circulation from the scala tympani to the scala vestibuli and/or vice versa, thereby distributing drug within the cochlea.

A medical fluid drainage system which may be advantageously used to actively absorb excess fluid from an interstitium in a living host and to transport it from an inlet member 1 in a non edematous body part out of an outlet member 4 via pumps (5, 6, 7) built in series, such as a distal area with functional lymphatic vessels, or directly in a lymphatic vessel, or directly in a blood vessel.

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.

The disclosure relates to devices and methods for the treatment of edema, which devices use a restrictor for flow compensation. Devices and methods of the invention further use a flow-restrictor in the circulatory system, upstream of an intravascular pump, to balance pressure changes induced by the pump and to compensate for downstream flow. The device may be provided as an indwelling, intravascular catheter with a mechanical pump such as an impeller and a selectively deployable restrictor such as an inflatable balloon. Congestive heart failure or edema is treated by operating the pump in an innominate vein and using the restrictor for flow compensation, to restrict the upstream flow and thus amplify or maintain pressure reduction at the lymphatic outlet.

The disclosure relates to devices and methods for the treatment of edema which devices use an intravascular edema pump with an anticoagulant. The invention provides devices and methods for treating edema that use an indwelling catheter to place an impeller in a blood vessel of a patient, near an outlet of a lymphatic duct. Operating the impeller creates a local depression in blood pressure, which promotes drainage of lymph from the lymphatic system. The catheter is also used to release an anticoagulant such as heparin to wash and lubricate the impeller. Specifically, the anticoagulant inhibits clotting, hemolysis, or thrombosis from occurring and interfering with smooth operation of the impeller.