Microbubbles detached from a blood circuit and a blood purification unit are discharged with the use of a backflow generated at the instant that a roller of a blood pump releases a squeezable tube. In a normal rotation step, a region filled with a priming solution after a priming step is closed by a closing unit, and a rotor of a blood pump is rotated normally until a roller of the blood pump releases a squeezable tube to generate a backflow. After the backflow is generated at the release of the squeezable tube by the roller of the blood pump, bubbles are moved by reversely rotating the rotor while disabling the closing by the closing unit. Thus, the bubbles are discharged through a discharge unit.

Microbubbles detached from a blood circuit and a blood purification unit are discharged with the use of a backflow generated at the instant that a roller of a blood pump releases a squeezable tube. In a normal rotation step, a region filled with a priming solution after a priming step is closed by a closing unit, and a rotor of a blood pump is rotated normally until a roller of the blood pump releases a squeezable tube to generate a backflow. After the backflow is generated at the release of the squeezable tube by the roller of the blood pump, bubbles are moved by reversely rotating the rotor while disabling the closing by the closing unit. Thus, the bubbles are discharged through a discharge unit.

A device, a kit and a method is presented for permanently augmenting the pump function of the left heart. The mitral valve plane is assisted in a movement along the left ventricular long axis during each heart cycle. The very close relationship between the coronary sinus and the mitral valve is used by various embodiments of a medical device providing this assisted movement. By means of catheter technique an implant is inserted into the coronary sinus, the device is augmenting the up and down movement of the mitral valve and thereby increasing the left ventricular diastolic filling when moving upwards and the piston effect of the closed mitral valve when moving downwards.

A blood ultrafiltration system comprises a blood filter with first and second compartments separated by a semipermeable membrane. Blood input and blood output lines are connected in fluid communication with the first compartment. An effluent line is connected in fluid communication with the second compartment. A peristaltic pump is arranged for repeated engagement with first and second line segments. In a first arrangement, the first line segment is part of the blood input line or the blood output line and the second line segment is part of the effluent line. In a second arrangement, the first line segment is part of the blood input line and the second line segment is part of the blood output line. The system is operable, by the peristaltic pump, to pump blood through the blood filter and control the extraction of ultrafiltrate in the blood filter.

A blood ultrafiltration system comprises a blood filter with first and second compartments separated by a semipermeable membrane. Blood input and blood output lines are connected in fluid communication with the first compartment. An effluent line is connected in fluid communication with the second compartment. A peristaltic pump is arranged for repeated engagement with first and second line segments. In a first arrangement, the first line segment is part of the blood input line or the blood output line and the second line segment is part of the effluent line. In a second arrangement, the first line segment is part of the blood input line and the second line segment is part of the blood output line. The system is operable, by the peristaltic pump, to pump blood through the blood filter and control the extraction of ultrafiltrate in the blood filter.

A diaphragm assembly for a pulsatile fluid pump includes an edge-mounted flexible diaphragm, the diaphragm configured for operation cyclically between a diastole mode and a systole mode. The diaphragm assembly further includes a systolic distribution brace having an interior wall configured to cup a portion of the outside surface of the diaphragm, and a diastolic plate, embedded in the diaphragm, mechanically coupled to a portion of the inside surface of the diaphragm. In the course of the systole mode, force is applied across the maximum radial extent of the systolic distribution brace, so as to impart tension in the diaphragm around the periphery of the systolic distribution brace. In the course of the diastole mode, force is applied across the maximum radial extent of the diastolic plate, so as to impart tension in the diaphragm around the diastolic plate.

An invention directed to an implant device having a biointerface. The implant device comprises a cavity and a structure enabling a flow path between the cavity and an environment of the implant device. An actuatable membrane is interposed in the flow path. The device includes a power-generating unit and a control unit, where the latter is connected to the power-generating unit. An electromechanical is connected to both the control unit and the power-generating unit. The electromechanical system includes at least one actuator configured to mechanically contact the membrane. This actuator is permanently attached to the membrane. The control unit and the electromechanical system are jointly configured to cause the electromechanical system to controllably actuate the membrane via at least one actuator to control a transfer of substances between the cavity and the environment through the flow path. The invention is further directed to related operation and fabrication methods.

An invention directed to an implant device having a biointerface. The implant device comprises a cavity and a structure enabling a flow path between the cavity and an environment of the implant device. An actuatable membrane is interposed in the flow path. The device includes a power-generating unit and a control unit, where the latter is connected to the power-generating unit. An electromechanical is connected to both the control unit and the power-generating unit. The electromechanical system includes at least one actuator configured to mechanically contact the membrane. This actuator is permanently attached to the membrane. The control unit and the electromechanical system are jointly configured to cause the electromechanical system to controllably actuate the membrane via at least one actuator to control a transfer of substances between the cavity and the environment through the flow path. The invention is further directed to related operation and fabrication methods.

An exemplary apparatus, can include, for example, a circulating tumor cell (CTC) treatment arrangement, a pump arrangement configured to circulate a fluid through the CTC treatment arrangement, and an electric field generator electrically connected to the CTC treatment arrangement, and configured to apply an electric field to the fluid circulating through the CTC treatment arrangement. The pump arrangement can be a peristaltic pump, which can be configured to continuously circulate the fluid through the CTC treatment arrangement. According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, method, system and computer-accessible medium can be provided for killing at least one circulating tumor cell (CTC). Using such exemplary embodiment, blood can be pumped from a body of a patient to an electroporation chamber inside of a CTC treatment arrangement. An electric field can be applied to the blood located in the electroporation chamber in order to kill the CTC. The electric field-applied blood can be pumped back into the body.

An exemplary apparatus, can include, for example, a circulating tumor cell (CTC) treatment arrangement, a pump arrangement configured to circulate a fluid through the CTC treatment arrangement, and an electric field generator electrically connected to the CTC treatment arrangement, and configured to apply an electric field to the fluid circulating through the CTC treatment arrangement. The pump arrangement can be a peristaltic pump, which can be configured to continuously circulate the fluid through the CTC treatment arrangement. According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, method, system and computer-accessible medium can be provided for killing at least one circulating tumor cell (CTC). Using such exemplary embodiment, blood can be pumped from a body of a patient to an electroporation chamber inside of a CTC treatment arrangement. An electric field can be applied to the blood located in the electroporation chamber in order to kill the CTC. The electric field-applied blood can be pumped back into the body.