An implantable device for reducing pulsatile pressure within a blood vessel is described herein, for example to treat pulmonary hypertension. The implantable device may include a fluid reservoir, a compliant member (e.g., a balloon), and a conduit coupled to the fluid reservoir and the compliant member. Advanced designs for anchoring the compliant member in the blood vessel are described. In addition, enhanced reservoir, conduit, and balloon designs, as well as methods for implanting/using the same, are provided.

Ureteral bypass devices and procedures for performing internalized urinary diversions within patients. Such a procedure includes implanting a first catheter and securing a distal end of the first catheter within the renal pelvis or ureter of a patient, implanting a cystostomy catheter through and securing a distal end of the cystostomy catheter within the urinary bladder of the patient, fluidically connecting proximal ends of the first and cystostomy catheters to an adapter, and then subcutaneously implanting a sampling/flushing port and fluidically connecting a proximal end of the sampling/flushing port to the adapter via a third catheter to yield an artificial ureteral bypass device, in which the first and cystostomy catheters are fluidically connected together and fluidically connected to the subcutaneously-placed sampling/flushing port.

Disclosed is a distributed transformer or extension cord component for a transcutaneous energy transfer system used to transfer electric power to an implanted medical device. The extension cord component may enable power transfer to occur at various points on or near the body of the subject within whom the medical device is implanted. In this way, the subject may gain greater flexibility and high levels of convenience in connection with use of the transcutaneous energy transfer system.

A repeater system may control a pump by using a repeater and a user interface. An adhesive patch system may be used for affixing a pump or other object to a human body. Such an adhesive patch system may include two sets of adhesive members, each member including an adhesive material on at least one side so as to attach to the body. The members of the first set are spaced to allow the members of the second set to attach to the body in spaces provided between the members of the first set, and the members of the second set are spaced to allow members of the first set to detach from the body without detaching the members of the second set. Also, fill stations and base stations are provided for personal pump systems.

Devices and methods are described for occluding the left atrial appendage (LAA). The device excludes the LAA from blood flow to prevent blood from clotting within the LAA and subsequently embolizing, particularly in patients with atrial fibrillation. The implantable device is delivered via transcatheter delivery into the LAA and secured within the LAA. The implant comprises an expandable and compliant frame and an expandable and conformable tubular foam body carried by the frame. The device may have a thromboresistant cover at a proximal end and a thromboresistant coating on the foam body. The frame may have recapture struts inclining radially outwardly in the distal direction from a central hub. The frame may have axially extending side wall struts, with adjacent pairs of side wall struts joined at one or more apexes. Anchors extend from the frame to engage tissue. The anchors can also be reversible to allow retraction of the anchors and repositioning or retrieval of the device.

Embodiments include methods and systems for maintaining glucose homeostasis. Systems can include a pump, a first reservoir including a homeostasis agent, an umbilical catheter capable of being advanced in the umbilical vein or in the falciform ligament, and a sensor. Systems can also include a biocompatible coating, a microprocessor in communication with the pump and the sensor, and a power supply. Methods can include implanting a pump and reservoir subcutaneously in a patient, advancing a catheter in the umbilical vein or in the falciform ligament, measuring a blood glucose level, pumping a homeostasis agent, and administering the homeostasis agent to the portal venous system.

A vascular access port can include a base that can be attached to a vessel and a body extending away from the base in at least a vertical direction. A height of the body in the vertical direction can be sufficiently small such that the entire port can be implanted subcutaneously in a patient. The port can include a guidance passageway that is at least partially defined by the body and can direct an access device into a vessel of a patient when the port is attached to the vessel. In some arrangements, the guidance passageway includes a funnel region that decreases in size from a proximal end of the guidance passageway toward a distal end of the guidance passageway that defines an opening through the bottom surface of the port.

A pharmaceutical composition for treating infertility in a female subject substantially consists of local anesthetic of amide type such as lidocaine, human albumin, viscosity controlling agent selected from recombinant hyaluronic acid and combination of recombinant hyaluronic acid and water-soluble cellulose ether, optionally citrate, glucose, and/or amino acid, water optionally comprising one or more ions selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, acetate, chloride, sulfate. Also disclosed is a method of treating infertility by administration of the composition to a female subject in need thereof.

An apparatus for treating a urinary retention of a patient by discharging urine from a mammal urinary bladder through a mammal urethra. The apparatus comprises an expandable member adapted to be implanted inside the urinary bladder of the patient, a control device adapted to control the volume of the expandable member for emptying the mammal urinary bladder, and an implantable restriction devices adapted to close each ureter of a patient when discharging urine from the urinary bladder.

Systems and methods for generating blood flow with a pump incorporating linear bearing technology are provided. The pump may include an actuator assembly, a moving assembly, and a linear hydrodynamic or thin-film bearing positioned within a housing. The moving assembly may include at least one magnet and the actuator assembly may include a magnetic assembly for selectively generating a magnetic field to cause linear reciprocating movement of the moving assembly with respect to the actuator assembly. The linear hydrodynamic or thin-film bearing may include a bearing portion on the moving assembly that is in fluid communication with a bearing portion on the actuator assembly or pump housing. The system may involve an implantable pump, an extracorporeal battery and a controller coupled to the implantable pump. The implantable pump may be suitable for use as a left ventricular assist device (LVAD).