Vacuum dressings with a guide tube are provided for implantable medical devices that inhibit infection associated with in-dwelling devices while encouraging healing of the incision around the device. The vacuum dressings mitigate pooling of fluids that harbor bacteria from between the outer diameter of an inserted implantable medical device and the inner diameter of a guide tube and also in the cylindrical gap, between the outer diameter of an inserted implantable medical device and the inner wall of the subcutaneous tunnel, which remains in fluid communication with skin microflora. Implantable medical devices may also illustratively include a variety of catheters, such as venous access, peritoneal dialysis, and other indwelling venous access catheters that require skin penetration; cannulas; Steinman pins; Kirschner wires; and cardiac assist device lines.

A ventricular assist device is provided, including a blood pump, a driveline and a feedthrough. The blood pump includes a pump housing, an axi-symmetric oval-shaped blood sac and stem assembly received in the pump housing, and a pressure sensing system embedded in the pump housing. The driveline includes a pneumatic lumen, at least one electric wire and a tether included in a wall of the driveline, wherein the electric wires and the tether are disposed on the pneumatic lumen. The feedthrough connects the driveline to the pump housing.

Methods and devices that prevent stasis in the LAA by either increasing the flow through the LAA or by closing off or sealing the LAA. Increasing the flow is accomplished through shunts, flow diverters, agitators, or by increasing the size of the ostium. Closing off the LAA is accomplished using seals or by cinching the LAA.

Methods and devices that prevent stasis in the LAA by either increasing the flow through the LAA or by closing off or sealing the LAA. Increasing the flow is accomplished through shunts, flow diverters, agitators, or by increasing the size of the ostium. Closing off the LAA is accomplished using seals or by cinching the LAA.

A method for treating a male impotent patient, the method comprising the steps of cutting the skin of the patient, inserting a dissecting tool and dissecting an area of at least one portion of a tissue wall of a penile portion, and placing a medical device. The medical device comprises a constriction device configured to gently constrict the penile portion to restrict the blood flow leaving the penis, and a stimulation device configured to stimulate the penile portion constricted by the constriction device to at least further restrict the blood flow leaving the penis to achieve erection.

There is provided a method for treating a male impotent patient comprising stimulating at least one portion of the patient's normal penile tissue or the prolongation thereof to at least restrict the blood flow leaving the penis to achieve erection. To improve the erection effect the method further comprises gently constricting the penile portion or the prolongation thereof to restrict the venous blood flow in the penile portion, and then stimulating the constricted penile portion to cause contraction of the penile portion to at least further restrict the blood flow leaving the penis to achieve erection.

The present invention provides a combined direct cardiac compression and aortic counterpulsation device comprising: an inflatable direct cardiac compression jacket configured when inflated to directly compress a heart and assist in displacing blood therefrom, an aortic counterpulsation chamber configured when inflated to displace aortic volume for the purposes of causing a counterpulsation effect, and a driver operably connected to said inflatable direct cardiac compression jacket and to said aortic counterpulsation chamber, said driver is configured to inflate said direct cardiac compression jacket and to deflate said aortic counterpulsation chamber during systole of the heart; said driver is further configured to deflate said direct cardiac compression jacket and to inflate said aortic counterpulsation chamber during diastole of the heart.

A method for treating a male impotent patient, the method comprising the steps of cutting the skin of the patient, inserting a dissecting tool and dissecting an area of at least one portion of a tissue wall of a penile portion, and placing a medical device. The medical device comprises a constriction device configured to gently constrict the penile portion to restrict the blood flow leaving the penis, and a stimulation device configured to stimulate the penile portion constricted by the constriction device to at least further restrict the blood flow leaving the penis to achieve erection.

The present invention is related to a stretchable tubular device (1) comprising at least one layer (Lx) of a stretchable polymer, a power supply (2) and a set of electrodes (3a, 3b) connected to said power supply (2). The power supply can supply at least a first level of voltage (V1) to the electrodes so as to modify the natural force (F0) of the stretchable layers to a modified force (F1). The present invention also covers a process for manufacturing such a tubular device and its use as a medical implant.

A medical device includes an artificial contractile structure which may be advantageously used to assist the functioning of a hollow organ, an artificial contractile structure including at least one contractile element (100) adapted to contract an organ, in such way that the contractile element (100) is in a resting or in an activated position, at least one actuator designed to activate the contractile structure, and at least one source of energy for powering the actuator. The ratio “current which is needed to maintain the contractile element in its activated position and in its resting position/current which is needed to change the position of the contractile element” is less than 1/500, preferably less than 1/800, and more preferably less than 1/1000. The medical device further includes elements for reducing corrosion of the medical device.