A method of inducing retrograde blood flow may include extending a sheath through opposite walls of one of an artery and a vein of a subject and through a wall of the other of the artery and the vein such that a distal end of the sheath may be positioned within one of the artery and the vein. The method may include inducing retrograde blood flow in the artery and delivering the induced retrograde blood flow into the vein of the subject via the sheath.

The volume of a hyperinflated lung compartment is reduced by sealing a distal end of the catheter in an airway feeding the lung compartment. Air passes out of the lung compartment through a passage in the catheter while the patient exhales. A one-way flow element associated with the catheter prevents air from re-entering the lung compartment as the patient inhales. Over time, the pressure of regions surrounding the lung compartment cause it to collapse as the volume of air diminishes. Residual volume reduction effectively results in functional lung volume expansion. Optionally, the lung compartment may be sealed in order to permanently prevent air from re-entering the lung compartment.

A left atrial appendage (LAA) occluder and an occluding system are provided. The LAA occluder includes a sealing portion and an ablation portion arranged in the sealing portion, as well as a hollow proximal connector at a proximal end of the sealing portion. The ablation portion is connected to the proximal connector. The ablation portion is used to freeze an LAA after being injected with cryogen so as to form an annular isolation band on an inner wall of the LAA for blocking the conduction of electrical signals between the LAA and a left atrium.

An apparatus for delivery of a device into a hollow organ and a method of delivery are provided. The apparatus includes an elongated tube having proximal and distal openings and being configured for carrying the device on a distal portion thereof. The apparatus further includes a tubular cover for covering at least a portion of the device when mounted on the elongated tube, the tubular cover being radially elastic and axially non-elastic. The tubular cover is retrievable into the elongated tube through the distal opening, such that when the device is mounted on the elongated tube and covered by the tubular cover, retrieval of the tubular cover into the elongated tube uncovers the device for delivery into the hollow organ.

Methods and apparatuses for pumping blood within a blood vessel are described. The methods and apparatuses can be used for renal decongestion by pumping blood through the kidney(s), thereby increasing a pressure gradient across the kidney(s). The apparatuses can include one or more inflatable elements that can be repeatedly inflated and deflated to cause a pumping action within the blood vessel. In some embodiments, the one or more inflatable elements are positioned within one or more stents.

Systems and methods are provided for treating conditions such as heart failure and/or pulmonary hypertension by at least partially occluding flow through the superior vena cava for an interval spanning multiple cardiac cycles. A catheter with an occlusion device is provided along with a controller that actuates a drive mechanism to provide at least partial occlusion of the patient's superior vena cava, which reduces cardiac filling pressures, and induces a favorable shift in the patient's Frank-Starling curve towards healthy heart functionality and improved cardiac performance. The system may include sensors to determine the degree of occlusion of the superior vena cava. The occlusion system may be used to reduce volume in a heart and facilitate a cardiac procedure. The occlusion system may be used to relieve an overloaded chamber during and/or after deploying a VAD.

Methods and devices are configured for neurointerventional procedures. The methods and devices enable safe and rapid access to the cerebral or intracranial arteries for the introduction of interventional devices such as to treat stroke and/or other disease conditions. The methods and devices include a vascular access and retrograde flow system that can be used safely and rapidly in the neurointerventional procedures.

Methods for performing endovascular procedures are described herein. The methods may comprise advancing an expandable member of a blood flow control device to a target location in a blood vessel of a patient, and rotating a circular gear positioned at least partially within a housing of a controller via the controller communicably coupled to the blood flow control device. Rotating the circular gear may translate a linear gear of a syringe pump fluidly coupled to the expandable member thereby adjusting a volume of the expandable member. Various blood flow control devices, control systems, and fluid delivery systems are also described herein. The fluid delivery systems may include a pump configured for manual or automated delivery of fluids, or configured to switch between automated and manual modes of delivery. The pump may be a syringe pump that utilizes a rack and pinion system, a motor, and a sensor to track the position and/or movement of a component of the syringe pump during fluid transfer. Alternatively, the pump may be a pressure differential pump that includes a flow restrictor and a pressure sensor that controls delivery of fluid from a fluid reservoir. Systems and methods including the syringe and pressure differential pumps are also described.

An infusion catheter includes a housing, a proximal shaft assembly, a first distal shaft assembly and a second distal shaft assembly. The housing has one or more inflation ports and one or more infusion ports. The proximal shaft assembly supports a first balloon. The first distal shaft assembly extends distally from the proximal shaft assembly and supports a first distal balloon. The second distal shaft assembly extends distally from the proximal shaft assembly and supports a second distal balloon. The first and second distal shaft assemblies define infusion openings in fluid communication with the one or more infusion ports. The infusion catheter may be inserted into a uterine cavity to occlude tubal ostia and an internal cervical OS of the uterine cavity for sealing the uterine cavity. A therapeutic agent may be delivered through the infusion catheter and into the sealed uterine cavity to treat the uterine cavity.

In a medical instrument that is inserted into an affected area or tissue to perform treatment, a technique of delivering various drugs to a target site is desired.

Provided is a medical instrument that is inserted into an affected area or tissue to perform treatment, wherein a drug-loaded nanostructure is covalently bound to the medical instrument via a photosensitive linker immobilized on the surface of at least a portion of the medical instrument.