279 results about "Increased blood flow" patented technology

A method of increasing blood flow through an obstructed blood vessel includes providing an expandable member substantially made of a mesh having a plurality of interstices. The expandable member has a proximal member end and a distal member end spaced longitudinally apart by a tubular member body. The expandable member is substantially closed at the distal member end. The expandable member is inserted into the blood vessel. The expandable member is positioned within the blood vessel with the proximal member end upstream of the distal member end and the member body located radially adjacent at least a portion of an obstruction. The expandable member is expanded to bring at least a portion of the member body into contact with the obstruction. An outward radial force is exerted on the obstruction to dislodge at least one fragment from the obstruction and to enhance blood flow through the blood vessel past the obstruction. The at least one fragment is passed through at least one interstice of the member body in the radial direction. The at least one fragment is selectively retained within the expandable member. An apparatus for increasing blood flow through an obstructed blood vessel is also provided.

Systems and methods of increasing blood flow in a blood vessel with ultraluminal plaque. One disclosed method oncludes inserting an imaging guidewire into the blood vessel to the inraluminal plaque, propelling a catheter with a wokring head over the guidewire towards the distal end of the guidewire, scanning with the imaging guidewire to generate a cross-section image, radially positioning the catheter using a positioning element, monitoring the image to ascertain that the working head is properly positioned and operating the workong head to remove th plaque. A computerized system designed, constructed and configured to perform the methods is further disclosed.

A magnetically-levitated blood pump with an optimization method that enables miniaturization and supercritical operation. The blood pump includes an optimized annular blood gap that increases blood flow and also provides a reduction in bearing stiffness among the permanent magnet bearings. Sensors are configured and placed optimally to provide space savings for the motor and magnet sections of the blood pump. Rotor mass is increased by providing permanent magnet placement deep within the rotor enabled by a draw rod configuration.

One method for diagnosing a cardiovascular-related condition in a breathing person comprises interfacing a valve system to the person's airway. The valve system is configured to decrease or prevent respiratory gas flow to the person's lungs during at least a portion of an inhalation event. The person is permitted to inhale and exhale through the valve system. During inhalation, the valve system functions to produce a vacuum within the thorax to increase blood flow back to the right heart of the person, thereby increasing blood circulation and blood pressure. Further, at least one physiological parameter is measured while the person inhales and exhales through the valve system. The measured parameter is evaluated to diagnose a cardiovascular condition.

A method and device for increasing blood flow by applying positive pressure to extremities of a mammal and/or controlling the temperature of the mammal. The device includes one or more collapsible and pliant body elements capable of expanding and flexibly applying pressurized compression forces to the extremity of the mammal by attaching one or more pressure-applying gas plenums as close to the extremity as possibly. The flexible extremity device can be used independently or can be used in conjunction with thermal pads disposed to the one or more collapsible and pliant body elements. Alternatively, the one or more collapsible and pliant body elements can be manufactured into thermal pads.

A method for increasing circulation in a breathing person utilizes a valve system that is interfaced to the person's airway and is configured to decrease or prevent respiratory gas flow to the person's lungs during at least a portion of an inhalation event. The person is permitted to inhale and exhale through the valve system. During inhalation, the valve system functions to produce a vacuum within the thorax to increase blood flow back to the right heart of the person, thereby increasing cardiac output and blood circulation.

Methods for using blood pumps to treat heart failure are disclosed. The pump is mounted on an interior of a stent, and the stent is releasably mounted on a distal end of a catheter. The distal end of the catheter is inserted into a peripheral artery and advanced to position at a region of interest within the descending aorta, the ascending aorta, or the left ventricle. The stent and the pump are released from the catheter, and the pump is activated to increase blood flow downstream of the pump. The pump can also be positioned in the vena cava or used to treat right-sided heart failure following the insertion of an LVAD, or to improve venous return in patients with varicose veins. Non-stent pumps are described for insertion between the pulmonary vein and aorta, and between the vena cava and pulmonary artery designed for use during cardiac surgery.

The present invention generally relates to the improvement of tissue health by increasing local blood flow. In some aspects of the invention, increased local blood flow is effected by the transdermal delivery of the nitric oxide precursor L-arginine and/or its derivatives alone, or optionally in conjunction with an adjunct such as theophylline. The transdermal delivery is effected, in certain embodiments through the means of a hostile biophysical environment, such as that created by a high ionic strength environment. Various pathological states caused by, or occurring in conjunction with, insufficient blood flow, can be treated using the systems and methods of the invention as described herein. In other embodiments, increased blood flow using the systems and methods of the invention may result in enhanced healing, for example, through greater availability of the constituents of the blood. Examples of conditions which may benefit from increased blood flow include, but are not limited to, erectile dysfunction, hair loss, female sexual dissatisfaction, sagging facial or other body tissue, peripheral vascular disease including claudication, neuropathy, skin ulcers, bone healing, wound healing, viral and bacterial infection, and skin grafting.

The invention describes a method to automatically controlling, single channel Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) of the plantar muscle, in response to the sensing of motion of the foot or leg: to reduce accommodation of the stimulated plantar muscle and attendant reduction of contractions, which when undiminished increase blood flow for the prevention of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and Pulmonary Embolism (PE); to turn off the stimulation during walking or running to prevent slips or falls; and to reduce power consumption of the unit that provides the stimulation.

Embodiments of the invention disclosed herein generally include methods and/or devices for increasing blood flow, controlling the vasodilatation of a patient's vascular structure, regulating the temperature of a portion of a mammal, and for improving various interventional procedures and/or therapeutic techniques. The device may also include one or more access ports, or apertures, that allow access to portions of the mammal's extremity to allow interventional type medical devices, therapeutic devices, surgical support equipment or patient monitoring devices to have access to the extremity on which a body element is disposed. The device may also be configured to allow other supporting components, which may include IV or other catheters, a means of accessing to a portion of the extremity positioned inside the temperature regulating device. In one configuration the device comprises flexible materials that are adapted to conform to the surface of the extremity disposed in the device when a vacuum pressure is applied to an internal region of the device.

The present invention generally relates to the transdermal delivery of substances and, in some embodiments, to the transdermal delivery of beneficial substances by a hostile biophysical environment. In one aspect, various methods for the transdermal delivery of beneficial substances are disclosed. By creating a hostile biophysical environment, beneficial substances may be delivered, according to certain embodiments, through the stratum corneum of the skin into the body. Beneficial substances include, but are not limited to, pharmaceutical agents, drugs, vitamins, co-factors, peptides, dietary supplements, and others. The beneficial effects disclosed include, for instance, relief of pain and inflammation, prevention and healing of ulcers of the skin, relief of headache, improved sexual function and enjoyment, growth of hair on the scalp, improving muscle size and/or function, removing body fat and/or cellulite, treating cancer, treating viral infections and others. A hostile biophysical environment may also be used in conjunction with systems and methods for increasing local blood flow, according to one set of embodiments. For example, by using a nitric oxide donor such as L-arginine, local blood flow may be increased, e.g., by transdermally delivering the nitric oxide precursor. The nitric oxide donor may be the sole cause of increased blood flow, or it may be supplemented with an adjunct such as theophylline.

One method for diagnosing a cardiovascular-related condition in a breathing person comprises interfacing a valve system to the person's airway. The valve system is configured to decrease or prevent respiratory gas flow to the person's lungs during at least a portion of an inhalation event. The person is permitted to inhale and exhale through the valve system. During inhalation, the valve system functions to produce a vacuum within the thorax to increase blood flow back to the right heart of the person, thereby increasing blood circulation and blood pressure. Further, at least one physiological parameter is measured both prior to and while the person inhales and exhales through the valve system. The measured parameters are evaluated to confirm the initial diagnosis of a cardiovascular condition.

A radial closure device has a compression element to place compression force against the radial access site. The invention further comprises an occlusion element that places an occlusion force against the ulnar artery to reduce blood pressure at the arteriotomy site and increase blood flow in the radial artery thereby reducing radial artery occlusion and reducing the time and compression force to achieve hemostasis. A radial restriction element can also be placed upstream of the access site to further reduce radial blood pressure at the arteriotomy site.

A method is provided for increasing blood flow in or about a cardiac structure to prevent thrombosis. One step of the method includes providing an implantable sprayer having an elongated tubular body with proximal and distal end portions. The distal end portion includes at least one opening and an anchoring mechanism. The distal end portion of the implantable sprayer is inserted into a cardiac chamber that includes the cardiac structure. The anchoring mechanism is then deployed so that the distal end portion of the implantable sprayer is secured in or about the cardiac structure. Next, the proximal end portion is anastomosed with an artery so that blood flows through the elongated tubular body of the implantable sprayer and is sprayed out of the at least one opening to continuously circulate blood in or about the cardiac structure.