Devices and methods for treating tricuspid regurgitation (TR) are provided. A clasp or clamp is used to anchor a TR-treatment device to an existing lead of a pacemaker or an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) that passes through the tricuspid valve. The TR-treatment device can be a balloon occluder that is adjustable by filling or withdrawing filler material from the occluder through a proximal port implanted in the skin of the patient.

A method of promoting lung disinsufflation including inserting a catheter into a bronchial passage of a patient's lung. The catheter contains an implantable artificial bronchus compressed within the catheter. The method further includes using the catheter to position the implantable artificial bronchus in the bronchial passage such that the implantable artificial bronchus extends across openings of a plurality of other bronchial passages and withdrawing the catheter from the bronchial passage to cause the implantable artificial bronchus to naturally expand and remain in the bronchial passage. The implantable artificial bronchus is configured to promote enlargement of the bronchial passage and allow air to exit from the plurality of other bronchial passages and into the implantable artificial bronchus through one or more of the plurality of side openings.

Endobronchial methods, devices and systems for treating emphysema by creating an airway bypass in a patient's airway including a longitudinal fenestration held open by an airway expander.

A flow control device (241, 260, 300, 350, 450, 480, 500) for a bronchial passageway including: a one-way valve (273, 313, 360, 478, 511); a hollow structural frame (242, 302, 352, 453, 468, 509) housing the one-way valve, wherein the structural frame is expandable from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration; and a sealing membrane (316, 470, 512) mounted to at least a distal portion of the structural frame, wherein the sealing membrane forms an enclosed wall defining at least a portion of an airflow passage through the flow control device, and the one-way valve is included in the airflow passage.

An implantable blood flow control system has an open passageway defined inside a radially inner wall, behind which is a closed passageway. The radially inner wall includes electroactive polymer actuator members for providing a variable flow restriction. The flow restriction has an undulating shape so that the volume of the closed passageway may remain constant during actuation of the electroactive polymer actuator members. In this way, the chamber behind the actuator members does not impede free movement of the actuator members. The undulating pattern presents no sharp edges, where blood coagulation could otherwise occur.

An implantable device includes an EAP actuator and a sensor. The sensor is configured to monitor a force external to the implantable device acting in a direction either with or counter to a direction of actuation of the actuator, and a controller is adapted to control the actuator to actuate at a moment when force counter to the direction of actuation is sensed to be at its lowest within a given time window or force with the direction of actuation is sensed to be at its highest within a given time window. In this way, actuation is effected at a moment of least resistance force, reducing the power needed for deployment of the actuator, and permitting actuation to occur even in conditions experiencing large variable forces.

A tricuspid regurgitation treatment tool to be inserted into the pulmonary artery is proposed. The tricuspid regurgitation treatment tool to be inserted into the pulmonary artery is used to verify whether the right ventricular dysfunction may occur when treating the tricuspid regurgitation by surgeries or other permanent treatments. A test insertion of the tricuspid regurgitation treatment tool to be inserted into the pulmonary artery is made to pass obliquely through the tricuspid valve of a patient, and after a certain time has elapsed, the tool is removed. The tricuspid regurgitation treatment tool to be inserted into the pulmonary artery includes: a blocking part blocking the tricuspid valve; and an insertion tube provided with a guidewire-guiding lumen formed therein to be movable along the guidewire.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to devices and methods for treating tricuspid valve insufficiency. For example, in some embodiments, a tricuspid insufficiency treatment device is provided, and includes a tubular member configured for implantation within a vena cava of a patient, where the tubular member is formed with a sidewall. The device also includes at least two (2) valves arranged circumferentially along the sidewall, where each valve comprises an opening formed in the sidewall, and a blocking member arranged to block and unblock a respective opening of the plurality of openings. Each blocking member comprises a flap or cover pivotally attached at or proximate a portion of a respective opening and arranged to block and unblock the opening during ventricular systole and ventricular diastole, respectively, such that the opening is unblocked in a direction opposite to the attachment of the flap or cover. The at least two valves are arranged along a first circumference at a first location between the ends of the tubular member.

Devices are provided with an internal dimension that can be reduced and increased in vivo. In one example, an interatrial shunt for placement at an atrial septum of a patient's heart includes a body. The body includes first and second regions coupled in fluid communication by a neck region. The body includes a shape-memory material. The body defines a passageway through the neck region for blood to flow between a first atrium and a second atrium. The first and second regions are superelastic at body temperature, and the neck region is malleable at body temperature. A flow area of the passageway through the neck region may be adjusted in vivo.

The present disclosure relates generally to stents and methods for managing passage of material through a body lumen. In some embodiments, a medical stent may include a stent body defined by a hollow tubular elongate structure extending along a central axis, the stent body including a first portion and a second portion. The medical stent may further include a control region between the first and second portions, wherein in a first configuration the hollow tubular elongate structure of the control region is in a closed, twisted configuration, and wherein in a second configuration the hollow tubular elongate structure of the control region is in an open, expanded configuration.