The invention provides a catheter and control box apparatus and related methods that are useful in delivering liquids, including liquids comprising nucleic acid molecules into cells. In particular, the invention provides a catheter that stabilizes fluid flow within a vein to deliver a volume, pressure charge of saline solution, exogenous compositions, and isolated vectors to kidney cells, using the renal vein as a guide and under hydrodynamic pressure. The catheter and control box apparatus and related methods described herein are useful to research, prognose, ameliorate symptoms of kidney injury, and treat kidney pathologies.

A method includes, in a processor, receiving signals from (i) a first position sensor disposed on a shaft of a catheter, and (ii) a second position sensor disposed on a distal end of a sheath of the catheter. Based on the signals received from the first position sensor and the second position sensor, an event is detected in which an expandable distal-end assembly of the catheter is being withdrawn into the sheath while still at least partially expanded. A responsive action is initiated in response to detecting the event.

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.

A pressure monitoring apparatus (1) for monitoring pressure of a liquid (4) in a vessel (2) comprises a housing (3) within which an airtight gas chamber (6) is formed. A pressure sensor (8) is located in the housing (3) monitors the pressure of a gas in the gas chamber (6). A conduit (12) having a communicating bore (16) of total length L.sub.t communicates the gas chamber (6) with the vessel (2). As the pressure of the liquid in the vessel (2) increases, a liquid/gas interface meniscus (20) travels along a working length L.sub.w of the communicating bore (16) from the second end (15) thus increasing the pressure in the gas chamber (6) to the pressure of the liquid, which is monitored by the pressure sensor (8). The total length L.sub.t of the conduit (12) is greater than the working length L.sub.w of the conduit (12) to avoid the liquid/gas interface meniscus (20) reaching the first end (14) of the communicating bore (16). The pressure monitoring apparatus (1) may also be mounted at the distal end (33) of a balloon catheter (30) for monitoring the pressure of a liquid inflating medium inflating the balloon (35) of the balloon catheter (30), which may be an electrically conductive liquid, with the gas isolating the pressure sensor (8) from the liquid inflating medium.

A system for treating an aneurysm comprises an elongate flexible shaft and an expandable member. An expandable scaffold is disposed over the expandable member and may be expanded from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration. A double-walled filling structure is disposed over the scaffold and has an outer wall and an inner wall. The filling structure is adapted to be filled with a hardenable fluid filing medium so that the outer wall conforms to an inside surface of the aneurysm and the inner wall forms a substantially tubular lumen to provide a path for blood flow. In the expanded configuration the scaffold engages the inner wall of the filling structure. A tether is releasably coupled with the filling structure and the flexible shaft thereby constraining axial movement of the structures relative to each other.

The disclosure relates to devices and methods for the treatment of edema, which devices use a restrictor for flow compensation. Devices and methods of the invention further use a flow-restrictor in the circulatory system, upstream of an intravascular pump, to balance pressure changes induced by the pump and to compensate for downstream flow. The device may be provided as an indwelling, intravascular catheter with a mechanical pump such as an impeller and a selectively deployable restrictor such as an inflatable balloon. Congestive heart failure or edema is treated by \ operating the pump in an innominate vein and using the restrictor for flow compensation, to restrict the upstream flow and thus amplify or maintain pressure reduction at the lymphatic outlet.

An apparatus includes a body, a shaft assembly, a deflection actuation assembly, and a dilation catheter. The shaft assembly includes a rigid proximal portion and a flexible distal portion. The deflection actuation assembly includes a rotary actuator and a first translatable actuation member at least partially disposed within the first rotary actuator. A second translatable actuation member extends through the shaft assembly and couples the first translatable actuation member with the flexible distal portion of the shaft assembly. The first rotary actuator is rotatable about a longitudinal axis to thereby drive the first and second translatable actuation members longitudinally. The flexible distal portion is configured to deflect away from the longitudinal axis in response to translation of the first and second translatable actuation members longitudinally. The dilation catheter is slidable relative to the shaft assembly and includes an expandable dilator.

Systems and methods and devices are provided for arresting or reversing the effects of myocardial remodeling and degeneration after cardiac injury, without the potential drawbacks associated with previously existing systems and methods, by at least partially occluding flow through the superior vena cava over multiple cardiac cycles, and more preferably, by adjusting the interval or degree of occlusion responsive to a sensed level of patient activity. In some embodiments, a controller is provided that actuates a drive mechanism responsive to a sensed level of patient activity to provide at least partial occlusion of the patient's superior vena cava, while a data transfer circuit of the controller provides bi-directional transfer of physiologic data to the patient's smartphone or tablet to permit display and review of such data.

Some embodiments of a balloon catheter device for introduction into a body vessel, in particular the coronary sinus, can include a catheter shaft which carries an inflatable balloon on its distal portion and in which a plurality of different lumens are formed. In particular embodiments, a system for treating heart tissue can include a coronary sinus occlusion catheter configured for improved deliverability to the coronary sinus and for thereafter performing intermittent occlusion of the coronary sinus.

Some systems and methods for operating a vessel occlusion catheter may include a control and inflation device to control the filling of the balloon in such a manner that the vessel wall will not be overstressed while the safe occlusion of the blood vessel is achieved.