Disclosed herein is an inflow cannula for an implantable blood pump assembly. The inflow cannula includes a tubular body that extends from a proximal end to a distal end. The tubular body includes a proximal portion adapted for connection to a pump housing, and a distal portion adapted for positioning within an opening formed in a heart. The inflow cannula further includes an expandable sleeve coupled to an exterior surface of the distal portion. The sleeve has a first portion coupled to the distal portion of the tubular body, and a second portion extending from the distal end of the tubular body. The second portion is deployable from a first, stored configuration to a second, deployed configuration in which the second portion expands radially to engage and conform to an endocardial surface of the heart.

An embodiment includes a suction device handle for use with a vacuum supply conduit to suction a fluid or tissue, the handle comprising: a hand-grippable body defining a chamber; the hand-grippable body comprising a distal end configured to support a suction tip; the suction tip including a distal end of a vacuum supply conduit extending within an outer cannula, the vacuum supply conduit being offset from a distal end of the outer cannula by a predetermined distance; wherein the distal end of the hand grippable body is connected to a proximal end of the outer cannula and the chamber is connected in fluid communication with the suction pressure or vacuum generated at the distal end of the vacuum supply conduit. Additional embodiments are described herein.

An implantable fluid router is described that includes one or more inlets, one or more outlets and at least one gas vent for removing gas from liquid routed from the one or more inlets to the one or more outlets, The implantable router may be used with implantable drug delivery apparatus. A catheter device including such a fluid router is also described.

An artificial kidney and its supportive device comprising a catheter having an internal semipermeable membrane tube to act as an artificial kidney. Said catheter comprising a proximal portion having a semipermeable membrane tube, a blood/infusion lumen, a dialysate lumen and side holes, while a distal portion having a dual septa port assembly. Said supportive device comprising a device house with its cover that covers its internal cavity that includes sorbent bags with different sizes and arrangement, a screen, buttons, set knobs, two contactless conductivity cells, bidirectional rotary pumps, rotary valves, pressure sensors, a slot for memory card, a temperature sensor, scales, an IV pole and a blood leak detector. A method comprising: inserting the catheter having an internal semipermeable membrane tube that acts as artificial kidney into a suitable vein or artery, then using the supportive device to supporting, facilitating, and controlling the operation of the artificial kidney and to managing the dialysate inflow and outflow to and from the dialysate lumen within the catheter and also to managing the blood inflow and outflow to and from the infusate/blood lumen within the catheter to be on opposite direction across the semipermeable membrane of the artificial kidney.

A catheter system for delivery of a ureteral catheter in a ureter includes a ureteral catheter, a pusher catheter to deliver the ureteral catheter at a desired location, a connection device, to connect, in an assembled state a distal end of the pusher catheter to a proximal end of the ureteral catheter, where, in the assembled state, the catheter system is configured and to deliver, when desired, fluid contrast agent near a proximal end of the ureteral catheter. The catheter system is also configured to deliver, when desired, fluid contrast agent near a distal end of the ureteral catheter.

The invention provides a catheter for placement within a vessel of a patient. The catheter comprises an elongated catheter body, a septum extending longitudinally through the interior of the catheter body from the dividing the interior of the catheter body into a first lumen and a second lumen. Each lumen has curved or angled internal walls at the distal end of the catheter that terminate at ports located on opposing sides of the catheter body. The invention also provides a method for exchanging fluids in a patient comprising the step of positioning the catheter of the present invention in communication with a fluid-containing vessel of a patient. The method is particularly well-suited for hemodialysis, plasmapheresis, and other therapies which require removal and return of blood.

Apparatus for use in dialyzing a patient comprising a hemodialysis catheter comprising an elongated body having a proximal and a distal end, wherein the distal end terminates in a substantially planar distal end surface; first and second lumens extending from the proximal end to the distal end, wherein the lumens terminate on the distal end surface in first and second mouths, arranged in side-by-side configuration, and further wherein the lumens are separated by a septum; and first and second longitudinal slots formed in the distal end of the elongated body and communicating with the interiors of the lumens, the slots opening on the distal end surface; wherein the slots each have a length and a width, relative to the dimensions of the lumens and the rate of blood flow to be passed through the hemodialysis catheter, so as to minimize undesirable recirculation of dialyzed blood. given lumen is to be used for a suction function, the primary blood flow will enter the proximal end of the longitudinal slot associated with that lumen, whereby to minimize undesirable recirculation of dialyzed blood.

The device and methods described herein relate to a seeping flow catheter. The seeping flow catheter includes a porous material. The inner face of the porous material defines the lumen of the catheter. The porous material is configured such that fluid can flow along the length of the catheter, between the inner face and outer face of the porous material. As the fluid flows through the porous material, the fluid can seep into the lumen of the catheter through the inner face or out of the catheter through the outer face of the porous material. Portions of the inner or outer face can include a lining that substantial reduces the perfusion of the fluid through the lined areas.

A shunt for at least partial implantation into a patient that includes an elongated conduit having at least one lumen therethrough and a second lumen concentric about the first lumen along at least part of the first lumen, that includes a proximal end for receipt of bodily fluids for flow through the shunt and a distal end for discharge of the bodily fluids from the shunt, and a long term source of at least one occlusion resistant agent, wherein said at least a portion of the at least one occlusion resistant agent can permeate through at least a portion of the elongated conduit. The invention also includes kits and systems.

Multi-lumen catheters with improved tip configurations, including a triple-lumen catheter which may be useful for apheresis. In one variation, the catheter has three lumens with distal openings angularly spaced apart and staggered axially with respect to one another. In another variation, the catheter has two lumens exiting distally and one centrally positioned lumen exiting proximally. A third variation is a catheter with a single distal opening and two proximal openings. The staggered lumen openings along the axial length of the catheter may decrease recirculation while maximizing flow rates.