A stent apparatus, system, and method that senses wall shear stress by measuring fluid flow at localized areas within the stent, that processes measured information through an integrated circuit, and selectively sends power to mechanically controllable stent surfaces which results in localized geometric changes. In various embodiments the stent apparatus, system, and method sends data to outside the body in real time.

A stent system can be used to measure a flow characteristic of a fluid, such as a biomagnetic fluid, flowing through a passage of a support structure forming a portion of the stent system. The stent system can include a magnetic apparatus mechanically coupled to the support structure, the magnetic apparatus configured to generate a magnetic field through the passage, the field including a component perpendicular to a direction of flow of the biological fluid. The stent system can include electrodes mechanically coupled to the support structure, where the electrodes are connected to output a potential difference generated by the flow of the biological fluid through the magnetic field indicative of a velocity of flow of the biological fluid through the passage.

Apparatus and methods are described including a tube (20) that defines a flared downstream portion (30) that diverges toward a downstream end (32) of the tube, and a flared upstream portion (26) that diverges toward an upstream end (28) of the tube, such that a central portion (34) of the tube is narrower than at the ends of the tube. The tube defines a plurality of lateral openings (36). A support frame (24) supports the tube within a subject's vena cava, such that the downstream portion is sealed with respect to the wall of the vena cava downstream of junctions of the vena cava with all of the subject's renal veins, and the upstream portion is sealed with respect to the inner wall of the vena cava upstream of junctions of the vena cava with all of the subject's renal veins. Other applications are also described.

Wireless, variable inductance and resonant circuit-based vascular monitoring devices, systems, methodologies, and techniques, including specifically configured anchoring structures for same, are disclosed that can be used to assist healthcare professionals in predicting, preventing, and diagnosing various heart-related and other health conditions.

The invention relates generally to in vivo collection of circulating molecules, tumor cells and other biological markers using a collecting probe. The probe is configured for placement within a living organism for an extended period of time to provide sufficient yield of biological marker for analysis.

An intravascular sensor delivery device for measuring a physiological parameter of a patient, such as blood pressure, within a vascular structure or passage. In some embodiments, the device can be used to measure the pressure gradient across a stenotic lesion or heart valve. The sensor delivery device can be sized to pass over different sizes of guidewires to enable usage in coronary and peripheral arteries, for example.

A device for treating a vascular aneurysm of a human or mammal patient, comprising an implantable member adapted to hold fluid, the implantable member being adapted to be placed against an outside of a blood vessel having the aneurysm, exercise a pressure on the aneurysm to prevent or reduce an expansion of the aneurysm, follow an outer contour of the aneurysm, and provide a pressure that is equal or less than the diastolic blood pressure of the human or mammal patient.

The invention includes monitoring the perfusion of a tissue of an organ using a device having a perfusion sensor to detect a perfusion of the tissue, and at least one activity sensor to detect a muscle activity of the organ. The at least one activity sensor is arranged in proximity to the perfusion sensor. Both sensors are linked to a processing unit. The processing unit receives, as input, perfusion measurement data and muscle activity data, and allows the muscle activity data to be taken into account for monitoring the perfusion of the tissue. The perfusion measurement data are invalidated during the muscle activity periods.

An endovascular prosthesis comprising: a conduit formed by a wall structure surrounding a lumen; a sensor element configured to generate an electrical parameter shift in response to a physical event, the sensor element integrated in the wall structure of the conduit, the wall structure includes at least one wire structure, where at least a part of the wire structure include a first metallic conduit, a second metallic conduit, and a sensor disposed between the first metallic conduit and the second metallic conduit, where the first and second metallic conduits are conductors in a monitoring device detecting the electrical parameter shift in the sensor; wherein the sensor is either a variable capacitive sensor, and the first metallic conduit and the second metallic conduit form the electrodes of the variable capacitor; or a variable resistor configured to generate a resistance change in response to the physical event.

In some embodiments, systems, methods and devices for using passive pressure sensors to measure pressure at an inaccessible location are provided. In some embodiments, a system for determining pressure in a ventriculoperitoneal shunt implanted in a subject is provided, the system comprising: an acoustic source emitting signals over a range of frequencies; the ventriculoperitoneal shunt, comprising: a lumen that provides a conduit for cerebrospinal fluid between; and a passive acoustic element in a wall of the ventriculoperitoneal shunt filled with a gas, wherein the passive acoustic element emits a second signal at a resonant frequency that varies based on the pressure on the passive acoustic element; an acoustic receiver that detects the second signal and outputs an electrical signal that represents at least the resonant frequency; and a processor programmed to: receive the electrical signal; determine the pressure using the resonant frequency; and present the pressure using a display.