Abstract: A medical ablation system includes an elongate element to be inserted endoluminally into a patient's vessel and includes at its distal end a pre-heating element and an ablation element. The system provides pre-heating of, for example, blood to a first threshold temperature above body temperature but below ablation temperature; and then a second heating stage provided by the ablation element. Pre-heating reduces the amount of energy required to effect ablation, resulting in more focussed embolization with a higher proportion of energy delivered to the area in a more controlled manner. The arrangement can reduce the amount of damage to surrounding tissues and organs.

Abstract: The invention relates to membrane pumps for delivering liquids. More specifically, a pump is provided having a pump housing with a pump cavity formed between first and second wall portions thereof, and an pump membrane pump membrane having first and second membrane surfaces arranged within the pump cavity, whereby a pump chamber is provided between the first wall portion and the first membrane surface, and an actuation chamber is provided between the second wall and the second membrane surface. Inlet means comprising an inlet valve in fluid communication with the pump chamber, and outlet means comprising an outlet valve in fluid communication with the pump chamber are provided. The pump membrane has a maximum volume position, and a drained volume position in which the first membrane surface in a stretched state abuts the first wall.

Abstract: The present invention relates to flow restrictors suitable for the controlled transfer of fluid from a first compartment to a second compartment. More specifically, the invention relates to a safety arrangement reducing the risks associated with diminished flow resistance through the flow restrictor. In a first aspect the present invention provides a flow restrictor comprising a flow-restricting channel formed between at least a first member and a second member arranged in contact with each other, the flow channel being arranged to form at least one generally U-formed portion with a pair of opposed first and second channel portions, and with a safety channel arranged between the opposed first and second channel portions. The safety channel provides a fluid communication with an exterior space relative to the flow restrictor.