A stent having an elongated tubular configuration consisting of at least one anchor section to inhibit migration. Said anchor section is fabricated by an expandable mesh of woven metallic or polymeric elements. The anchor is configured to minimize contact abrasion and irritation to the entrance of the lumen being stented, as well as to enervated tissue surrounding that entrance, as well as to better absorb forces and increase retention as the lumen is stretched.

An irrigation and aspiration system that includes a catheter shaft having a distal end that is in fluid communication with an interior of a kidney, an irrigation channel and an aspiration channel extending through the shaft, a bypass channel fluidly coupled with the irrigation channel and the aspiration channel a bypass valve configured to control a level of fluid communication between the irrigation and aspiration channels via the bypass channel, an aspiration pump, at least one valve disposed on the aspiration channel and configured to provide a pulsed flow of fluid in the aspiration channel, a pressure sensor in fluid communication with an interior of the kidney, and a controller configured to: receive at least one pressure measurement, compare the measured pressure to a threshold, and based on the comparison, send a control command to at least one of the bypass valve, aspiration pump, and the at least one valve.

Apparatus and methods are described including an impeller configured, in a radially-expanded configuration thereof, to pump a fluid by rotating. A radially expandable cage is disposed around the impeller, such that, in radially-expanded configurations of the impeller and the cage, the impeller is separated from an inner surface of the cage. The impeller is disposed within the cage such that, in response to the cage becoming radially contracted and axially elongated, the impeller radially contracts and axially elongates. Other applications are also described.

Disclosed is a method for treating a renal condition by loco-regional perfusion of one or both of a patient's kidneys (1810). A closed circuit may be formed with a perfusion catheter (1822) positioned in the renal artery of the kidney, a recovery catheter (1824) positioned in the renal vein of the kidney, and an external membrane oxygenator (1820) disposed therebetween. A perfusate containing, for example, a drug may be circulated through the closed circuit while isolating the closed circuit from the patient's systemic circulation.

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of medical devices and establishing fluid communication between body lumens and/or within a body vessel. In particular, the present disclosure relates to devices and methods for establishing drainage between apposed body lumens and/or within a body vessel.

In some aspects, provided herein are antimicrobial compositions comprising partially esterified polygalacturonic acid and certain fatty acids (e.g., caprylic acid). In some embodiments, the antimicrobial composition may be administered (e.g., topically or orally) to a subject, such as a human patient to treat an infection (e.g., an infection comprising a biofilm). In some aspects, improved catheters are provided.

Improved medical guide elements for use with dilators to be inserted into an organ or body structure of a patient, such as the kidney. The guide element includes a proximal segment and a distal segment. The diameter of the distal segment is greater than the diameter of the proximal segment. The change in diameter is abrupt, providing a discrete step transition at a point along the filament which presents a proximally-facing surface on the distal segment. When the proximal segment of the guide element is fully inserted into a dilator having a distal tip adapted for insertion into a patient, the dilator distal tip firmly abuts the proximally-facing end surface of the distal segment. The relative dimensions of the dilator tip and the discrete stepped transition of the guide element provides full shielding or over shielding of the dilator tip, thereby facilitating passage of the dilator tip along the tissue track, through the puncture hole and into the orifice.

A method and apparatus for treatment of heart failure, hypertension and renal failure by stimulating the renal nerve. The goal of therapy is to reduce sympathetic activity of the renal nerve. Therapy is accomplished by at least partially blocking the nerve with drug infusion or electrostimulation. Apparatus can be permanently implanted or catheter based.

Methods and apparatus are provided for treating hypertension, e.g., via a pulsed electric field, via a stimulation electric field, via localized drug delivery, via high frequency ultrasound, via thermal techniques, etc. Such neuromodulation may effectuate irreversible electroporation or electrofusion, necrosis and/or inducement of apoptosis, alteration of gene expression, action potential attenuation or blockade, changes in cytokine up-regulation and other conditions in target neural fibers. In some embodiments, neuromodulation is applied to neural fibers that contribute to renal function. In some embodiments, such neuromodulation is performed in a bilateral fashion. Bilateral renal neuromodulation may provide enhanced therapeutic effect in some patients as compared to renal neuromodulation performed unilaterally, i.e., as compared to renal neuromodulation performed on neural tissue innervating a single kidney.

Methods and apparatus are provided for bilateral renal neuromodulation, e.g., via a pulsed electric field, via a stimulation electric field, via localized drug delivery, via high frequency ultrasound, via thermal techniques, etc. Such neuromodulation may effectuate irreversible electroporation or electrofusion, necrosis and/or inducement of apoptosis, alteration of gene expression, action potential attenuation or blockade, changes in cytokine up-regulation and other conditions in target neural fibers. In some embodiments, neuromodulation is applied to neural fibers that contribute to renal function. In some embodiments, such neuromodulation is performed in a bilateral fashion. Bilateral renal neuromodulation may provide enhanced therapeutic effect in some patients as compared to renal neuromodulation performed unilaterally, i.e., as compared to renal neuromodulation performed on neural tissue innervating a single kidney.