Systems (1100) for treating a blood flow passage are discloses herein. In one example, a treatment device includes an expandable element (1104) configured to be positioned within the passage and a reinforcing element (1102). The expandable element may have an expanded configuration in which the expandable element defines a lumen (1108) therethrough. The reinforcing element may be positioned within the lumen of the expandable element. The reinforcing element may be coupled to the expandable element such that expansion of the expandable element causes the reinforcing element to radially expand, thereby creating a perfusion lumen through the device.

An expandable introducer device includes an introducer hub, an expandable tubular membrane coupled to the hub and extending distally therefrom, and a rigid spine attached to, partially attached to, extending through, or incorporated into the inner surface of the tubular membrane. The tubular membrane includes a folded configuration and an expanded, unfolded configuration when a device is advanced through the tubular membrane.

The invention comprises an indwelling medical device which is capable of delivering a therapeutic agent evenly along the length of the indwelling portion, including the outer wall, of the device.

A continuously hollow device for the transfer of fluids to the human body is provided, which is made in a nanomaterial derived from latex, which chemical composition in based primarily on fats, waxes and several gummy resins obtained from cytoplasm of lactic cells. This biochemically modified material is capable of adjusting its outer and inner diameter, i.e. it enlarges or shrinks according to the needs of the patient. The device corresponds to a needle or the like (catheter), which allows to have a very small diameter so as to be inserted in the patient (minimally invasive procedure) and after a physical excitation of such nanomaterial, it can be extended once inserted in the body so as to allow the intake or discharge of fluids to or from the body through a catheter, probe or the like.

A catheter system includes an indwelling, hollow catheter having a tip inserted into a person's bladder. The tip has an opening through which urine from the bladder passes into the catheter. A flexible reservoir extends around the person's ankle and has walls bounding an interior compartment. A flexible, elongated tube has one end connected to the catheter and an opposite end connected to the reservoir. The tube is hollow for conducting urine in the catheter through the tube into the compartment of the reservoir. One of the walls of the reservoir is a bottom wall that engages and rests on a top of the person's foot in use to resist downward movement of the reservoir as the reservoir is filled with urine. A freely manipulated drain pipe is in fluid communication with the reservoir.

The expandable sheath and methods of use disclosed herein are used to deliver a prosthetic device through a patient's vasculature. The sheath is constructed to be expandable in the circumferential direction, while maintaining sufficient stiffness in the longitudinal direction to withstand pushing and resist kinking The sheath includes a plurality of curved arms extending outwardly from a longitudinally extending spine. The curved arms move away from the longitudinal axis of the sheath when pushed radially outwardly by a passing prosthetic device, and move back toward the longitudinal axis once the prosthetic device has passed.

An example introducer is disclosed. An example introducer includes an inner liner including a lumen, a distal region and at least one folded portion extending along the distal region. The introducer also includes a reinforcing member having a length and including at least one spine extending along the length of the reinforcing member. The introducer also includes a sheath disposed along at least a portion of the introducer, wherein the sheath includes at least one perforation, wherein material adjacent to the at least one folded portion is removed from a distal portion of the introducer to form a tip region. The introducer also includes a tip member disposed along the tip region.

A method for influencing cerebral perfusion in a patient by modifying a volume of a volume adaptor introduced into a cerebral ventricle of the patient, the method comprising identifying a timing of a cerebral blood inflow and/or outflow in a cardiac activity of the patient, modifying a volume of the volume adaptor in synchronization to the identified timing of the cerebral blood flow, to an amount sufficient to modify an intracranial pressure in the cerebral ventricle, such that a flow of the cerebral blood flow is enhanced. In some exemplary embodiments of the invention, the inflation duration of the volume adapter is short relative to the cardiac cycle.

An introducer may include a layered tubular member having an inner liner including at least one folded portion extending along a distal region of the inner liner in a delivery configuration; a reinforcing member disposed over at least a portion of the inner liner, the reinforcing member including a plurality of longitudinal spines defining a plurality of openings disposed between adjacent longitudinal spines, wherein each folded portion is circumferentially overlapped by one of the plurality of openings; and an outer sheath disposed over the reinforcing member, wherein the outer sheath includes at least one perforation circumferentially overlapping each folded portion; and a tip member fixedly attached to a tapered distal region of the layered tubular member. The inner liner may extend to a distal end of the layered tubular member. At least a portion of each folded portion may terminate proximal of the distal end of the layered tubular member.

An expandable delivery sheath includes an elastic outer tubular layer and an inner tubular layer. The inner tubular layer include a thick wall portion integrally connected to a thin wall portion. The thin wall portion can include longitudinal reinforcing members/rods that facilitate unfolding during the passage of the implant, thus decreasing the push force and increasing the consistency of the push force. The inner tubular layer can have a non-expanded or folded condition wherein the thin wall portion folds onto an outer surface of the thick wall portion under urging of the elastic outer tubular layer. When an implant passes therethrough, the outer tubular layer stretches and the inner tubular layer unfolds into an expanded lumen diameter. Once the implant passes, the outer tubular layer again urges the inner tubular layer into the non-expanded condition with the sheath reassuming its smaller profile.