Treatment of cardiac tissue via an implantable heart treatment device is described. A device embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a substrate; an electromagnetic signal generator configured to generate one or more electric signals configured to stimulate one or more tissues of a heart; a metabolic molecule supply device configured to supply one or more metabolic molecules to one or more tissues of the heart; and control circuitry operably coupled to the electromagnetic signal generator and the metabolic molecule supply device, the control circuitry configured to generate one or more control signals according to at least a first control protocol and a second control protocol, dependent upon a status of a ventricular fibrillation event of the heart.

Bioartificial ultrafiltration devices comprising a scaffold comprising a population of cells enclosed in a matrix and disposed adjacent a plurality of channels are provided. The population of cells provides molecules such as therapeutic molecules to a subject in need thereof and is supported by the nutrients filtered in an ultrafiltrate from the blood of the subject. The plurality of channels in the scaffold facilitate the transportation of the ultrafiltrate and exchange of molecules between the ultrafiltrate and the population of cells.

A fluid conduit includes a first portion having a first porosity, a second portion disposed immediately adjacent to the first portion, the second portion having a second porosity that is greater than the first porosity, and a third portion of the fluid conduit disposed immediately adjacent to the second portion, the third portion having a third porosity that is less than the second porosity. Each of the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion may be integrally formed as a single, continuous piece defining the fluid conduit.

Corporeal and extra-corporeal filtration and oxygenation devices include multi-chambered structures having a semi-permeable membrane between two chambers for creating differentials to extract waste from and/or add oxygen to blood flowing through the devices. A bio-modified material covers multiple surfaces of the devices which encounters blood to reduce blood contact with polymeric surfaces. Blood contact with polymeric surfaces causes a chemical cascade which in turn induces an inflammatory response in a patient's body. The filtration and oxygenation devices, and methods of installing and using the devices, reduce the frequency and severity of the inflammatory.

Disclosed are apparatus and methods for blood and other biological fluid purification using a membrane with cell containing vascular channel systems and filtration channel systems. Also disclosed are methods of making the apparatus as well as methods of making membranes.

The present disclosure relates to a dialysis device (1), more particularly a microdialysis device for the sampling of substances from the surface of a body organ. The device is particularly useful in the context of the monitoring of a moving organ, such as a beating heart, as the device comprises attachment means (2) allowing for a flexible and reliable attachment thereto. Furthermore, the microdialysis device provides for an efficient exchange of substances, such as metabolic substances, between the organ and the dialysis fluid through a semi-permeable material forming part of the device. There is also provided a method encompassing the device of the disclosure.

A substance exchange device for intracorporeal use includes a cavity for receiving blood having at least one blood inlet and at least one blood outlet, a substance exchange membrane adjoining the cavity, a supply duct for supplying an exchange fluid to the substance exchange membrane, a blood pump arranged within the cavity and a drive unit for the blood pump. The blood pump is configured to pump blood in a direction from a blood inlet to a blood outlet of the cavity. The drive unit includes a turbine, which is connected to the supply duct and may be driven by an exchange fluid supplied via the supply duct, where the turbine includes at least a rotor coupled to the blood pump and a stator (turbine nozzle) arranged upstream of the rotor.

A catheter for intravascular use has a blood inlet and a blood outlet, and includes a membrane arranged in the catheter in such a way that at least one part of the blood flowing into the catheter via the blood inlet during operation comes into contact with the membrane. The membrane allows an exchange of at least one substance between a carrier medium and the blood. The carrier medium is a carrier fluid in which the substance to be exchanged can be dissolved, and the catheter includes a delivery device that is designed to at least partially compensate for a pressure difference between the blood inlet and the blood outlet during operation. A method for removing at least one substance from venous blood for diagnostic purposes uses a device of this type.

The present invention provides a system for enriching a flowing liquid with a dissolved gas inside a conduit. The system comprises two or more capillaries, each capillary delivering a stream of a gas-enriched liquid to the flowing liquid. The first ends of the capillaries are positioned to form an intersecting angle with respect to the effluent streams such that these streams of gas-enriched liquid collide with each other upon exit from the first ends of the capillaries, effecting localized convective mixing within the larger liquid conduit before these gas-enriched streams are able to come into close contact with the boundary surfaces of the conduit, whereby the gas-enriched liquid mixes with the flowing liquid to form a gas-enriched flowing liquid. In the preferred embodiment, no observable bubbles are formed in the gas-enriched flowing liquid. Methods of making and using such system are also provided.

A device and method are described for the treatment of blood, which device may be used in conjunction with or in place of a failed Kidney. The device includes an ultrafiltration unit to remove proteins, red and white blood cells and other high molecular weight components, a nanofiltration unit to remove glucose, at least one electrodeionization unit to transport ions from the blood stream, and a reverse osmosis unit to modulate the flow of water, to both the blood and urine streams. In one embodiment, a specialized electrodeionization unit is provided having multiple chambers defining multiple dilute fluid channels, each channel filled with an ion specific resin wafer, and electrodes at the extremity of the device and proximate each of the resin filled dilute channels. By selective application of voltages to these electrodes, the ion transport functionality of a given dilute channel can be turned on or off.