A system for monitoring the flow of blood within an endoluminal passage is provided comprising a medical device and a sensor. The medical device is implantable within the endoluminal passage and includes a shaft and an expandable segment coupled to the shaft. The expandable segment is movable between a first state and a second state. Movement of the expandable segment is responsive to a change in the fluid pressure external to the expandable segment. The sensor is positioned on the medical device and is adapted to collect information associated with the state of the expandable segment.

A system for treating atrial dysfunction, including heart failure and/or atrial fibrillation, that includes one or more pressurizing elements and control circuitry. The one or more pressurizing elements can comprise one or more balloons and can be configured to be positioned in the left atrium, and optionally the pulmonary artery, of a patient's heart. The one or more pressurizing elements can be coupled to one or more positioning structures that can be configured to position the one or more pressurizing elements in the left atrium, and optionally the pulmonary artery. The control circuitry can be configured to operate the one or more pressurizing elements to decrease or increase pressure and/or volume in the left atrium, and optionally the pulmonary artery, in accordance with different phases of the cardiac cycle. The control circuitry can be further configured to operate the one or more pressurizing elements to generate coordinated pressure modifications in the left atrium, and optionally the pulmonary artery.

A system for treating atrial dysfunction, including heart failure and/or atrial fibrillation, that includes one or more pressurizing elements and control circuitry. The one or more pressurizing elements can comprise one or more balloons and can be configured to be positioned in the left atrium, and optionally the pulmonary artery, of a patient's heart. The one or more pressurizing elements can be coupled to one or more positioning structures that can be configured to position the one or more pressurizing elements in the left atrium, and optionally the pulmonary artery. The control circuitry can be configured to operate the one or more pressurizing elements to decrease or increase pressure and/or volume in the left atrium, and optionally the pulmonary artery, in accordance with different phases of the cardiac cycle. The control circuitry can be further configured to operate the one or more pressurizing elements to generate coordinated pressure modifications in the left atrium, and optionally the pulmonary artery.

A dual balloon catheter having two independently inflatable balloons that provides complete or intermittent synchronous occlusion of blood vessels (such as the contralateral iliac veins, for example) via the balloons, which can be used for the purpose of decreasing the pressure in the inferior vena cava, which results in decongestion of the kidneys, liver/splanchnic compartment, lymphatic system, and the heart.

A circulatory assist apparatus comprises an inflatable pumping balloon having a proximal end joined to an elongated balloon catheter, the catheter having a distal end joined to the pumping balloon and a proximal end, separated from the distal end by a length sufficient to extend from within the circulatory lumen to the outside of a patient's body, for receiving positive and negative pressure pulses from a pump to inflate and deflate the pumping balloon; a proximal expandable frame comprising a distal portion of an elongated shaft surrounding the catheter; and a distal expandable frame. The distal end of the elongated shaft is abuttable against a stopping element surrounding the catheter as the shaft is advanced towards the inflatable pumping balloon, or is joined to the catheter in which case the proximal expandable frame is heat set to deploy spontaneously to a predetermined diameter upon release of the elongated shaft.

A circulatory assist apparatus comprises an inflatable pumping balloon having a proximal end joined to an elongated balloon catheter, the catheter having a distal end joined to the pumping balloon and a proximal end, separated from the distal end by a length sufficient to extend from within the circulatory lumen to the outside of a patient's body, for receiving positive and negative pressure pulses from a pump to inflate and deflate the pumping balloon; a proximal expandable frame comprising a distal portion of an elongated shaft surrounding the catheter; and a distal expandable frame. The distal end of the elongated shaft is abuttable against a stopping element surrounding the catheter as the shaft is advanced towards the inflatable pumping balloon, or is joined to the catheter in which case the proximal expandable frame is heat set to deploy spontaneously to a predetermined diameter upon release of the elongated shaft.

A tubular pulsatile ventricular assist device (PVAD) system for providing forward flow of blood in a pulsatile, peristaltic, and non-hemolytic manner to help reduce the amount of blood clotting associated with current ventricular devices on the market. The system can encircle a portion of a blood vessel, and the system can sequentially apply a pressure through each port in a particular pre-determined patter so as to selectively occlude the lumen, thereby creating a pulsatile, peristaltic movement along a length of system. Said movement causes blood to flow through the portion of the blood vessel.

A tubular pulsatile ventricular assist device (PVAD) system for providing forward flow of blood in a pulsatile, peristaltic, and non-hemolytic manner to help reduce the amount of blood clotting associated with current ventricular devices on the market. The system can encircle a portion of a blood vessel, and the system can sequentially apply a pressure through each port in a particular pre-determined patter so as to selectively occlude the lumen, thereby creating a pulsatile, peristaltic movement along a length of system. Said movement causes blood to flow through the portion of the blood vessel.

Diffusion and infusion resistant implantable devices and methods for reducing pulsatile pressure are provided. The implantable device includes a balloon implantable within a blood vessel of a patient, e.g., the pulmonary artery. The balloon is injected with a fluid mixture comprising a constituent fluid(s) and a diffusion-resistant gas to provide optimal balloon volume and limit fluid diffusion throughout multiple cardiac cycles. The fluid mixture may be pressurized such that the balloon is transitionable between an expanded state and a collapsed state responsive to pressure fluctuations in the blood vessel.

A vascular pulsation device may be provided including a pulsation portion and a reservoir portion. The pulsation portion may be insertable into a bodily passageway and may include an expandable segment, a first end, and a second end. The reservoir portion may be in fluid connection with the pulsation portion by a supply passage and a return passage. An opening of the supply passage may be positioned proximate to the second end of the pulsation portion. An opening of the return passage may be positioned proximate to the first end of the pulsation portion.