There is provided a method for controlling the movement of bile and/or gall stones in the biliary duct. The method comprises gently constricting (i.e., without substantially hampering the blood circulation in the tissue wall) at least one portion of the tissue wall to influence the movement of bile and/or gallstones in the biliary duct, and stimulating the constricted wall portion to cause contraction of the wall portion to further influence the movement of bile and/or gallstones in the biliary duct. The method can be used for restricting or stopping the movement of bile and/or gallstones in the biliary duct, or for actively moving the fluid in the biliary duct, with a low risk of injuring the biliary duct.

A blood clot removal device for removing blood clots from the vascular system of a patient is implantable in the patient's body. The blood clot removal device comprises a blood flow passageway to be connected to the patient's vascular system to allow circulation of the patient's blood through the blood flow passageway, a filter provided in the blood flow passageway for collecting blood clots occurring in the blood flowing through the blood flow passageway, and a cleaning device for moving blood clots collected by the filter out of the blood flow passageway. By means of such blood clot removal device, the risk of blood clots reaching sensitive areas of the patient's body, such as the brain, is reduced.

The present invention relates to systems, methods and algorithms for determination of heart pump function and their use in livings subject are described.

The invention further relates to complementary parts of such systems that work best in combination.

Medical catheters, sheaths and shafts are disclosed that carry an arrangement of integrated digital sensor systems-on-chip (SoC) in the portion thereof residing inside the body. These devices combine at their portion that resides inside the body, the complete chain of signal transduction, signal analog-to-digital conversion and digital signal transmission, and allow to acquire single and multiple physical entities in a single setup. In specific instances the devices integrate wireless data transfer functionality, and in specific instances they integrate wireless energy harvesting for battery-free functionality.

The present invention further describes complementary monitor systems that are suited for reception, processing and analysis of data acquired by such catheters/sheaths/shafts to yield a robust assessment of cardiac performance.

Moreover, the present invention relates to innovations which render such systems applicable to patients with and without cardiac assist devices.

An implantable pump system is provided, suitable for use as a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) system, having an implantable pump, an extracorporeal battery and a controller coupled to the implantable pump, and a programmer selectively periodically coupled to the controller to configure and adjust operating parameters of the implantable pump. The implantable pump includes a flexible membrane coupled to an actuator assembly that is magnetically engagable with electromagnetic coils, so that when the electromagnetic coils are energized, the actuator assembly causes wavelike undulations to propagate along the flexible membrane to propel blood from through the implantable pump. The controller may be programmed by a programmer to operate at frequencies and duty cycles that mimic physiologic flow rates and pulsatility while operating in an efficient manner that avoids thrombus formation, hemolysis and/or platelet activation.

A method for removing particles from a bodily fluid in a patient with a filtering device, the filtering device being implantable in the patient's body and the method comprising the steps: pass bodily fluid of the patient through a tube forming a main fluid, filtering the bodily fluid passing through said main fluid passageway with a filter connected to the tube, collecting particles in the bodily fluid to be removed passing through the tube, and cleaning the filter with a filter cleaning device by removing particles collected by the filter out of the fluid passageway.

A method for removing particles from a bodily fluid in a patient with a filtering device, the filtering device being implantable in the patient's body and the method comprising the steps: pass bodily fluid of the patient through a tube forming a main fluid, filtering the bodily fluid passing through said main fluid passageway with a filter connected to the tube, collecting particles in the bodily fluid to be removed passing through the tube, and cleaning the filter with a filter cleaning device by removing particles collected by the filter out of the fluid passageway.

A method for controlling and implanting an implantable drainage device is provided. The device is adapted to move body fluid from one part of the body of a patient to another part of the body. The invention also extends to a filter adapted to filter particles from a drained fluid.

A method for controlling and implanting an implantable drainage device is provided. The device is adapted to move body fluid from one part of the body of a patient to another part of the body. The invention also extends to a filter adapted to filter particles from a drained fluid.

The present invention relates to an implantable cassette for holding filters. The cassette is provided with a revolving compartment having a plurality of segments. Each segment is for holding a filter for filtering blood. Also provided is attachment means for attaching the cassette to a blood flow passageway to thereby allow blood to flow through a first segment of the revolving compartment. An operation device for revolving the revolving compartment, to thereby move the first segment out of the blood flow passageway, is also provided.

The present invention relates to an implantable cassette for holding filters. The cassette is provided with a revolving compartment having a plurality of segments. Each segment is for holding a filter for filtering blood. Also provided is attachment means for attaching the cassette to a blood flow passageway to thereby allow blood to flow through a first segment of the revolving compartment. An operation device for revolving the revolving compartment, to thereby move the first segment out of the blood flow passageway, is also provided.