There is provided a method for controlling a flow of fluid and/or other bodily matter in a lumen formed by a tissue wall of a patient's organ. 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 flow in the lumen, and stimulating the constricted wall portion to cause contraction of the wall portion to further influence the flow in the lumen. The method can be used for restricting or stopping the flow in the lumen, or for actively moving the fluid in the lumen, with a low risk of injuring the organ. Such an organ may be the esophagus, stomach, intestines, urine bladder, urethra, ureter, renal pelvis, aorta, corpus cavernosum, exit veins of erectile tissue, uterine tube, vas deferens or bile duct, or a blood vessel.

A radially compressible cardiac gripper for at least mechanical stimulation of a heart. The cardiac gripper has two gripper arms, wherein at least one of the gripper arms comprises a flexible section configured for movement of the arm having the flexible section.

Methods and devices that prevent stasis in the LAA by either increasing the flow through the LAA or by closing off or sealing the LAA. Increasing the flow is accomplished through shunts, flow diverters, agitators, or by increasing the size of the ostium. Closing off the LAA is accomplished using seals or by cinching the LAA.

An aortic adapter assembly is provided, including a T-shaped flow connector, including: an inserted conduit portion, having a blood-contacting surface which is smooth; an extruded neck portion, wherein the inserted conduit portion is joined with the extruded neck portion; and a truss, disposed in the inserted conduit portion; wherein the T-shaped flow connector has a polymeric elastomer reinforced by the truss having a Nitinol material; wherein the inserted conduit portion has an inner wall which is gradually thinning at two conduit ends of the inserted conduit portion, with a proper distance of a tip of the conduit end to the outmost boundary of the truss, and the conduit end possesses a compliance-matching effect to an implant site artery; wherein a proximal end of the extruded neck portion is configured to be joined with an inlet adapter of a blood pump. The aortic adapter assembly is accompanied with a quick-connector type coupler and a deployment method to accomplish an insertion type flow communication between a ventricular assist device and the human circulation.

Devices, systems, and methods for combinatorial treatment of a condition with an implantable damping device and therapeutic agent (e.g., drug) are disclosed herein. Methods for treating one or more effects of the condition, such as a neurological condition, include providing the implantable damping device and at least neck one other therapy, such as a therapeutic agent, that treats the condition to the patient. The implantable damping device includes a flexible damping member and an abating substance and can be placed in apposition with a blood vessel. The flexible damping member forms a generally tubular structure having an inner and an outer surface, the inner surface formed of a sidewall having a partially deformable portion. The abating substance is disposed within the partially deformable portion and moves longitudinally and/or radially within the partially deformable portion in response to pulsatile blood flow.

A spring (3, 3′) comprising a plurality of elements (30), each element (3) comprising a rigid portion (31) and a flexible beam (32), the extremities (320, 321) of the flexible beam being supported by the rigid portion (31), the flexible beam (32) having a single stable position, so that the flexible beam can be deformed when a pressure is exerted between said extremities in the direction of the rigid portion (31), and returns to said single stable position when the pressure is released, and wherein the rigid portion (31) of at least one element (30) is in contact with the flexible beam (32) of the next element between said extremities (320, 321) of the flexible beam (32), so that the spring has a negative stiffness over an operating range. The arrangement ensures a pure radial compression/expansion of the spring.

A spring (3, 3′) comprising a plurality of elements (30), each element (3) comprising a rigid portion (31) and a flexible beam (32), the extremities (320, 321) of the flexible beam being supported by the rigid portion (31), the flexible beam (32) having a single stable position, so that the flexible beam can be deformed when a pressure is exerted between said extremities in the direction of the rigid portion (31), and returns to said single stable position when the pressure is released, and wherein the rigid portion (31) of at least one element (30) is in contact with the flexible beam (32) of the next element between said extremities (320, 321) of the flexible beam (32), so that the spring has a negative stiffness over an operating range. The arrangement ensures a pure radial compression/expansion of the spring.

Methods and devices that prevent stasis in the LAA by either increasing the flow through the LAA or by closing off or sealing the LAA. Increasing the flow is accomplished through shunts, flow diverters, agitators, or by increasing the size of the ostium. Closing off the LAA is accomplished using seals or by cinching the LAA.

Methods and devices that prevent stasis in the LAA by either increasing the flow through the LAA or by closing off or sealing the LAA. Increasing the flow is accomplished through shunts, flow diverters, agitators, or by increasing the size of the ostium. Closing off the LAA is accomplished using seals or by cinching the LAA.

Methods and devices that prevent stasis in the LAA by either increasing the flow through the LAA or by closing off or sealing the LAA. Increasing the flow is accomplished through shunts, flow diverters, agitators, or by increasing the size of the ostium. Closing off the LAA is accomplished using seals or by cinching the LAA.