A tissue expansion system includes an expandable bladder for placement beneath the skin corresponding to a tissue to be expanded, a fluid source, a pump coupled to both the fluid source and the expandable bladder to deliver inflation medium thereto, a controller for the pump, a pressure sensor for monitoring pressure within the expandable bladder and informing the action of the controller, and a carrier for holding at least the fluid source, pump, and controller. The carrier is wearable as a bra or form-fitting vest and is shaped to mimic the appearance of natural breasts for the patient. The fluid source can have an outward facing surface that is relatively rigid to maintain a curved shape mimicking that of natural breast(s). The inward facing surface of the fluid source may be flexible to conform to the shape of the underlying skin and tissue as it is expanded.

A method for maintaining a balloon of a balloon catheter at a prescribed pressure of between about 0.2 psi and 1 psi comprises the step of: generating a vacuum within a reservoir defined in a burette that is part of a fluid management system that is configured to controllably inflating and deflating the balloon by circulating balloon fill media along a fluid circuit, wherein generating the vacuum results in formation of a pressure differential along the fluid circuit, thereby allowing the balloon to be maintained at the prescribed pressure between about 0.2 psi and about 1 psi.

Devices, systems, and methods for minimization of backlash in a syringe pump are described herein. Syringe pumps may comprise a syringe including a cylindrical body and a plunger, and a controller. The plunger may comprise a linear gear that may operably couple with a circular gear in the controller. The controller may be configured to bias the circular gear in a biasing rotational direction, thereby positioning the plunger to move towards a biasing translational direction. The methods may comprise determining a backlash compensation amount, determining a fluid transfer movement amount, moving at least one component of the syringe pump the backlash compensation amount and the fluid transfer movement amount in a first direction, and moving the at least one component of the syringe pump a biasing movement amount in a second direction opposite the first direction to re-engage the first gear and the second gear to minimize backlash.

A catheter pump system includes a catheter assembly having a proximal end, a distal end, and an elongate body extending therebetween. The catheter pump system also includes a motor assembly including a shaft assembly extending at least partially within the elongate body of the catheter assembly. The shaft assembly is configured to rotate about an axis. The catheter pump system further includes a flow diverter housing defining a chamber and a fluid pathway through which a proximally-conveyed fluid flows. The shaft assembly extends outward from the chamber into an inner lumen of the elongate body. The catheter pump system also includes a seal configured to extend around and engage the shaft assembly to inhibit fluid within the elongate body of the catheter assembly from entering the chamber at least about an outer periphery of the shaft assembly.

An apparatus (10) includes an endovascular device (12) connected to a configured-to-be-powered syringe assembly (30). That configured-to-be-powered syringe assembly includes a reusable drive unit (36) and a disposable syringe unit (34).

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.

The disclosure relates to devices and methods for the treatment of edema that uses an impeller with a balloon that may be mounted on the impeller housing. The invention provides devices and methods for treatment of edema that use an indwelling catheter with an impeller to lower pressure at an outlet of a lymphatic duct and a balloon on the impeller to guide and to restrict blood flow. The balloon restricts return flow from the jugular and guides that flow into the impeller cage. By funneling the flow into the impeller cage, a rate of flow down the vessel may be increased, resulting in a lateral pressure decrease effecting the lymphatic outlet. Because the lymphatic outlet is subject to a pressure decrease, fluids in the lymphatic system drain to the outlet and into the circulatory system.

Various systems and methods are provided for reducing pressure at an outflow of a duct, such as the thoracic duct or the lymphatic duct, for example, the right lymphatic duct. A catheter system can be configured to be at least partially implanted within a vein of a patient in the vicinity of an outflow port of a duct of the lymphatic system. The catheter system includes first and second selectively deployable restriction members each configured to be activated to at least partially occlude the vein within which the catheter is implanted and to thus restrict fluid within a portion of the vein. The catheter system includes an impeller configured to be driven by a motor to induce a low pressure zone between the restriction members by causing blood to be pumped through the catheter when the restriction members occlude the vein.

A bowel irrigation system comprising a container adapted for containing a liquid, a catheter comprising an inflated balloon, a tubing connecting the container and the catheter, a pump, a control unit for controlling a flow of fluid in the system, and a pressure sensor is disclosed. The system comprises means for deflating the balloon, as a response to an assessment of a first pressure inside the balloon being greater than a first threshold value, by reducing the amount of liquid inside the balloon by a first amount of liquid. In addition, a method for deflating an inflatable balloon, as a response to an assessment of a first pressure inside the balloon being greater than a first threshold value, by reducing the amount of liquid inside the balloon by a first amount of liquid is disclosed.

A suspension of a therapeutic substance (e.g., embolic beads) dispersed within a liquid can be delivered via a catheter by using a bidirectional pump to rapidly draw the mixture of the therapeutic substance and liquid from an external syringe into an internal reservoir, then rapidly push the mixture back out into the external syringe. The rapid operation of the bidirectional pump mixes the two constituents so that the therapeutic substance is temporarily suspended within the liquid. Then, a low-speed pump is used to inject the mixture out via the catheter. In some embodiments, the parameters of the low-speed pump are controlled so that the fluid exiting the catheter will experience laminar flow. When the therapeutic substance comprises embolic beads, this can advantageously prevent reflux of the embolic beads, which can be dangerous.