Abstract: A breast milk expression apparatus includes at least one compression pad disposable about a breast of a user and configured for radial displacement relative to the breast. The apparatus includes a compression unit coupled to the at least one pad, configured to cyclically displace the at least one pad radially inwardly to cause compression of the breast and, following compression of the breast, permitting the breast to expand and decompress.

Abstract: A catheter has a jacket (10, 11, 5) defining a lumen and a helical support (6). The catheter has a proximal portion (1) and a distal portion (3), the distal portion having for at least some of its length a corrugated outer surface. A transition portion has a flexural stiffness which is less than that of the distal portion and more than that of the proximal portion. The transition portion provides an optimum transition in flexural stiffness by way of features of the jacket including geometry of jacket corrugations (15), or overlapping tubular layers (1073, 1074). The distal end of the distal portion may have an extension of liner material folded over (1072, 1082) to provide a particularly soft tip. In other examples the liner is terminated (763) before the distal tip. The catheter is particularly suited to an aspiration device (1350) with a flow restrictor (1353) and the distal portion distal of the flow restrictor.

Abstract: A catheter has a jacket (10, 11, 5) defining a lumen and a helical support (6). The catheter has a proximal portion (4) and a distal portion (3), the distal portion having for at least some of its length a corrugated outer surface. A transition portion has a flexural stiffness which is less than that of the distal portion and more than that of the proximal portion. The transition portion provides an optimum transition in flexural stiffness by way of features of the jacket including geometry of jacket corrugations (15), or overlapping tubular layers (1073, 1074). The distal end of the distal portion may have an extension of liner material folded over (1072, 1082) to provide a particularly soft tip. In other examples the liner is terminated (763) before the distal tip. The catheter is particularly suited to an aspiration device (1350) with a flow restrictor (1353) and the distal portion distal of the flow restrictor.

Abstract: A catheter has a jacket (10, 11, 5) defining a lumen and a helical support (6). The catheter has a proximal portion (1) and a distal portion (3), the distal portion having for at least some of its length a corrugated outer surface. A transition portion has a flexural stiffness which is less than that of the distal portion and more than that of the proximal portion. The transition portion provides an optimum transition in flexural stiffness by way of features of the jacket including geometry of jacket corrugations (15), or overlapping tubular layers (1073, 1074). The distal end of the distal portion may have an extension of liner material folded over (1072, 1082) to provide a particularly soft tip. In other examples the liner is terminated (763) before the distal tip. The catheter is particularly suited to an aspiration device (1350) with a flow restrictor (1353) and the distal portion distal of the flow restrictor.

Abstract: A breast milk expression apparatus includes at least one compression pad disposable about a breast of a user and configured for radial displacement relative to the breast. The apparatus includes a compression unit coupled to the at least one pad, configured to cyclically displace the at least one pad radially inwardly to cause compression of the breast and, following compression of the breast, permitting the breast to expand and decompress.

Abstract: A rotary blood pump may include one or more motor stators overlying exterior surfaces of a wall defining a pumping chamber. A rotatable impeller within the pumping chamber may have a hydrodynamic thrust bearing surface adapted to constrain a position of the impeller along an axis of rotation relative to the wall when the impeller is rotating about the axis of rotation. The impeller position may then be constrained without requiring a constant polarity magnetic force to be applied in the axial direction from a fixed position of the housing.

Abstract: A rotary blood pump may include one or more motor stators overlying exterior surfaces of a wall defining a pumping chamber. A rotatable impeller within the pumping chamber may have a hydrodynamic thrust bearing surface adapted to constrain a position of the impeller along an axis of rotation relative to the wall when the impeller is rotating about the axis of rotation. The impeller position may then be constrained without requiring a constant polarity magnetic force to be applied in the axial direction from a fixed position of the housing.