Various methods employing transvascular access devices are described, including a method of placing a central catheter in a peripheral vein in an arm of a patient; a method of providing percutaneous access to the heart of a patient; a method of clearing a clotted arteriovenous dialysis graft; a method of creating multiple access points into a single blood vessel; a method of creating an AV fistula in a patient; and a method of providing a bypass to a blockage in a popliteal artery in a patient.

A blood pump system for persistently increasing the overall diameter and lumen diameter of peripheral veins and arteries by persistently increasing the speed of blood and the wall shear stress in a peripheral vein or artery for a period of time sufficient to result in a persistent increase in the overall diameter and lumen diameter of the vessel is provided. The blood pump system includes a blood pump, blood conduit(s), a control system with optional sensors, and a power source. The pump system is configured to connect to the vascular system in a patient and pump blood at a desired rate and pulsatility. The pumping of blood is monitored and adjusted, as necessary, to maintain the desired elevated blood speed, wall shear stress, and desired pulsatility in the target vessel to optimize the rate and extent of persistent increase in the overall diameter and lumen diameter of the target vessel.

A pulmonary artery (PA) via trans-septal to left atrial (LA) percutaneous dual lumen cannulation system which reduce the pressure of the right ventricle provides drainage of pulmonary artery blood with bypassing the lung while return the blood to the Left Atrium (LA) without the need for thoracotomy for a wearable pump less extra corporeal lung assist (pECLA) to remove CO.sub.2, pump less extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), para-corporeal pump driven CO.sub.2 removal, extra corporeal CO.sub.2 removal (ECCO.sub.2R) pump driven, para-corporeal pump driven membrane oxygenation, or extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) with extra-corporeal pump. By establishing percutaneously a shunt with a dual lumen cannula between PA and LA using the PA-LA pressure gradient as the driving force for the blood flow through the drainage lumen, CO.sub.2 removal device, or oxygenator and return cannula lumen in the vascular system.

An extracorporeal life support device control system and method arranged to provide suitable gas and blood flow rates through an extracorporeal life support device. The control system comprises: a sensor arranged to detect and output a measurand, wherein the measurand is characteristic of a single autonomic nervous system output defining a metabolic demand; and a controller arranged to receive the measurand, and further arranged to control, according to the measurand: gas and/or liquid flow rates through an extracorporeal life support device; wherein the flow rates are arranged to provide blood gas concentrations similar to those arising from healthy lungs at the metabolic demand. In the case of patients with healthy lungs, the control system can control the blood flow rate without controlling gas flow rates through an oxygenator.

A blood treatment apparatus (1) defines first and second flow circuits (C1, C2) separated by a dialyzer (20). The second flow circuit (C2) comprises return and withdrawal lines (24′, 24″) for connection to a vascular system of a subject during a treatment session. After the treatment session, a control system causes an operator to connect the second flow circuit (C2) to a first port (32) of a container (30), the apparatus (1) to perform a rinseback procedure, the operator to disconnect the return line (24′) from the vascular system and re-arrange the second flow circuit (C2) to define a closed loop, and the apparatus (1) to draw residual liquid from the closed loop into the first flow circuit (C1) through a dialyzer membrane (21). To facilitate drainage of the residual fluid with a conventional line set, the second flow circuit (C2) is connected to a second port (33) of the container (30) to include the container (30) in the closed loop, or the return and withdrawal lines (24′, 24″) are connected in fluid communication with the first port of the container (30) through a three-way manifold coupling unit.

Apparatus and methods for controlled arterial/venous access are provided. The apparatus and methods may include a section of tubing anastomosed to a bodily lumen. A lumen clamping means may utilize a clamp manipulator to effectively seal the tubing, and the manipulator may be operated by two fingers. A needle receptor may be utilized, and the receptor may utilize a rotating member to guide a needle inserted from outside the body, in order ensure accurate placement into a channel. The channel may be in liquid communication with the tubing. The manipulator and the needle receptor may be palpable from outside the body.

Devices and methods divert blood flow from a first vessel to a second vessel and maintain blood flow in the first vessel. The device includes a first segment and a second segment. The first segment is configured to anchor in the first vessel. The first segment includes a window to allow blood to flow into the first segment, through the window, and distal in the first vessel. The second segment is configured to anchor in the second vessel. The second segment is configured to allow blood to flow into the first segment, through the second segment, and into the second vessel.

Devices and methods divert blood flow from a first vessel to a second vessel and maintain blood flow in the first vessel. The device includes a first segment and a second segment. The first segment is configured to anchor in the first vessel. The first segment includes a window to allow blood to flow into the first segment, through the window, and distal in the first vessel. The second segment is configured to anchor in the second vessel. The second segment is configured to allow blood to flow into the first segment, through the second segment, and into the second vessel.

The present disclosure concerns a vascular access device (1) comprising a vascular access tube (2), such as a cannula, having a distal end region (3) terminating in a tip (4) for insertion into a blood vessel (V) of a patient and at least one lumen (5) for infusing a medicament and/or for introducing one or more catheters there-through into the blood vessel (V). The device (1) further comprises a fixation mechanism (10) that is operable to secure or fix the distal end region (3) of the vascular access tube (2) with respect to the patient to inhibit or prevent withdrawal of the tip (4) from the blood vessel (V) and/or to inhibit or prevent overinsertion of the tip (4) into the blood vessel (V). The tip (4) of the vascular access tube (2) has an opening (6) for communication between the at least one lumen (5) of the access tube (2) and the blood vessel (V) of the patient into which the tip (4) is inserted, and the fixation mechanism (10) is desirably configured to position and fix the opening (6) of the tip (4) at or adjacent a wall (W) of the blood vessel (V) at a point of insertion of the tip (4). The fixation mechanism (10) is preferably configured to secure or fix the vascular access tube such that the access tube extends longitudinally at a predetermined angle (#) with respect to the blood vessel (V) at a point of insertion of the tip (4). The predetermined angle (#) may be within the range of about 20 degrees to about 90 degrees. The disclosure provides a corresponding method of implanting the vascular access device (1) in a patient.

A method of monitoring the integrity of a fluid connection between first and second fluid containing systems based on at least one time-dependent measurement signal from a pressure sensor in the first fluid containing system. The pressure sensor detects first pulses originating from a first pulse generator in the first fluid containing system and second pulses originating from a second pulse generator in the second fluid containing system. A parameter value representing a distribution of signal values within a time window is calculated by analyzing the measurement signal in the time domain and/or by using information on the timing of the second pulses in the measurement signal. The parameter value may be calculated as a statistical dispersion measure of the signal values, or from matching the signal to a predicted temporal signal profile of the second pulse. The integrity of the fluid connection is determined from the parameter value.