Some embodiments of a system or method for treating heart tissue can include a control system and catheter device operated in a manner to intermittently occlude a heart vessel for controlled periods of time that provide redistribution of blood flow. In particular embodiments, the system and methods may be configured to monitor at least one input signal detected at a coronary sinus and thereby execute a process for determining a satisfactory time period for the occlusion of the coronary sinus. In further embodiments, after the occlusion of the coronary sinus is released, the control system can be configured to select the duration of the release phase before the starting the next occlusion cycle.

Some embodiments of a system or method for treating heart tissue can include a control system and catheter device operated in a manner to intermittently occlude a heart vessel for controlled periods of time that provide redistribution of blood flow. In particular embodiments, the system and methods may be configured to monitor at least one input signal detected at a coronary sinus and thereby execute a process for determining a satisfactory time period for the occlusion of the coronary sinus. In further embodiments, after the occlusion of the coronary sinus is released, the control system can be configured to select the duration of the release phase before the starting the next occlusion cycle.

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.

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.

Some embodiments of a system or method for treating heart tissue can include a control system and catheter device operated in a manner to intermittently occlude a heart vessel for controlled periods of time that provide redistribution of blood flow. In particular embodiments, the system can be configured to provide an estimation of the cumulative effects of the treatment. For example, some embodiments of the system or method can treat myocardium that is at risk of infarction by intermittently altering blood flow in a venous system to induce microcirculation within the myocardium, and can output a cumulative dosage value indicative of a measurement of progress of reducing an infarct size.

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.

System for assisting vascular fluid flow body comprising: Fluid pump having an inlet for fluid in the vascular system to enter and an outlet for discharging pumped fluid into the vascular system at a fluid pump outlet pressure. Occluder placed into the vascular system at a location downstream of the outlet of the fluid pump. Occluder having a configuration in which the occluder occludes the vascular system and a configuration in which pumped is capable of flowing past the occluder. In use, the occluder being actuatable to alternate between the occluded configuration, in which pumped fluid accumulates in the vascular system becoming increasingly under pressure via elastic deformation of vessels, and the flow configuration, in which accumulated pumped fluid under pressure flows past the occluder at a greater pressure than the fluid pump outlet pressure, returning the elastically deformed vessels towards their original state.

System for assisting vascular fluid flow body comprising: Fluid pump having an inlet for fluid in the vascular system to enter and an outlet for discharging pumped fluid into the vascular system at a fluid pump outlet pressure. Occluder placed into the vascular system at a location downstream of the outlet of the fluid pump. Occluder having a configuration in which the occluder occludes the vascular system and a configuration in which pumped is capable of flowing past the occluder. In use, the occluder being actuatable to alternate between the occluded configuration, in which pumped fluid accumulates in the vascular system becoming increasingly under pressure via elastic deformation of vessels, and the flow configuration, in which accumulated pumped fluid under pressure flows past the occluder at a greater pressure than the fluid pump outlet pressure, returning the elastically deformed vessels towards their original state.

Some systems and methods for treating heart tissue may include instruments for intermittently occluding the coronary sinus using a coronary sinus occlusion catheter device. In some embodiments, the coronary sinus occlusion catheter can be used before or during a coronary intervention procedure in which a blockage in a heart is repaired or removed.

Disclosed is a Cannula system (CS1 to CS3, 210, 310, 1010, 1040, 1110) comprising: a first cannula (O1 to O3) having a minimum inner diameter or width, a second cannula (I1 to I3) having a maximum outer diameter or width, wherein the minimum inner diameter or width is greater than the maximum outer diameter or width, wherein the second cannula (I1 to I3) is adapted to be guided into the first cannula (O1 to O3) such that a first lumen of the first cannula (O1 to O3) remains in the first cannula (O1 to O3) between an outer surface the second cannula (I1 to I3) and an inner surface of the first cannula (O1 to O3), and wherein the first lumen of the first cannula (O1 to O3) defines a first fluid conduit and a first lumen of the second cannula (I1 to I3) defines a second fluid conduit.