Abstract: Cardiac valve supports and their methods of use.

Abstract: In an aspect, there is a prosthetic valve modification device adapted for endovascular delivery to a cardiac valve. The valve includes first and second support elements each having a collapsed delivery configuration and a deployed configuration. There are at least two bridging members extending from the first support element to the second support element, the bridging members having a delivery configuration and a deployed configuration. The bridging members either extend radially inward from the first and second support elements in the deployed configuration or are entirely straight and devoid of any visible curvature when in said deployed configuration.

Abstract: A catheter system suitable for the retrieval of debris and other solid or liquid matter from body passages, and the removal of said matter from the body. More particularly, a catheter system including two or more concentrically-arranged conduits and an inflatable element connected therebetween, wherein the inflatable element is arranged such that it may entrap solid or liquid matter in an internal annular cavity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for improving diastolic function of the heart comprising elastic elements and attachment elements, wherein said elastic elements and said attachment elements are configured such that they are capable of being interconnected to form a chain formed of an alternating series of said elastic elements and said attachment elements, and wherein said attachment elements are adapted to be anchored in the wall of the heart and with option for drug delivery to the wall of the heart. The invention further provides devices, methods and kits, for mounting the ventricular function assisting device of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention may provide devices suitable for insertion into a body passage. The devices may include a conduit and a distal head region located at the distal end of said conduit. A plurality of apertures on the surface of said head region and conduit may be used to direct a liquid spray outwards from said device. The apertures may be designed and spatially arranged such that when the device is inserted into a body passage, the liquid spray emitted from said apertures may be capable of both reducing the frictional contact between the device and the walls of said passage and of cleansing said passage of undesired solid and other particulate matter.

Abstract: The present invention provides a balloon catheter comprising: a hollow inner shaft disposed within a hollow outer shaft; a balloon attached at its proximal end to said outer shaft and at its distal end to said inner shaft; wherein the inner shaft is constructed such that following radial expansion of the balloon to a first expanded state, said inner shaft is capable of responding to further longitudinal expansion of the balloon to a second expanded state by increasing its length from a resting value, and of responding to subsequent partial deflation back to said first expanded state by reducing its length back to said resting value.

Abstract: The present invention provides a balloon catheter comprising: a hollow inner shaft disposed within a hollow outer shaft; a balloon attached at its proximal end to said outer shaft and at its distal end to said inner shaft; wherein the inner shaft is constructed such that following radial expansion of the balloon to a first expanded state, said inner shaft is capable of responding to further longitudinal expansion of the balloon to a second expanded state by increasing its length from a resting value, and of responding to subsequent partial deflation back to said first expanded state by reducing its length back to said resting value.

Abstract: The present invention provides an in vivo device for improving diastolic function of the heart, comprising: at least one elastic component that may be operatively connected to the external surface of the left or right ventricle of the heart by means of connecting elements, wherein said elastic component comprises essentially longitudinal members arranged such that the lateral separation therebetween may be increased or decreased in response to elastic deformation of said elastic component, and wherein said essentially longitudinal members are arranged such that said elastic component is curved in both the vertical and horizontal planes, such that its inner surface may be adapted to the curvature of the external ventricular surface of the heart, such that said elastic component is capable of exerting both radially outward expansive and tangentially-directed forces on the external surface of the cardiac ventricle.

Abstract: A method and device featuring at least one component providing a potential to kinetic converted elastic, magnetic repulsion, or, an elastic and magnetic repulsion, pushing, pulling, or, pulling and pushing, type of radially outward expansive force or pressure to an inner, outer, intermediate, and, combination thereof, wall region of the left ventricle, for reducing intraluminal hydrostatic pressure of the left ventricle (LV filling pressure) during the ventricular diastolic stage of the cardiac cycle, thereby, improving diastolic function of the left ventricle of the heart in subjects having a condition of diastolic heart failure (DHF), while minimally disturbing systolic function of the heart. The expansive force or pressure is in a range of about 5-40 mm Hg, whereby, left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) is reduced down to the normal range of about 6-12 mm Hg, during ventricular diastole of the heart.

Abstract: The present invention provides a body passage cleansing device suitable for being passed through an internal channel of an endoscope, comprising a distal plug having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein said plug comprises channels, apertures and/or nozzles which are capable of allowing the passage of a fluid therethrough from said proximal end to said distal end, wherein said plug is connected to the distal end of a wire or other actuating means; wherein at least an outer portion of said distal plug is capable of being elastically deformed such that the external diameter and/or outline thereof may be reduced in response to inwardly-directed compression forces exerted thereon; and wherein said channels, apertures and/or nozzles are in a closed conformation when said distal plug is subject to said compression forces, and in an open conformation when said plug is not subject to said compression forces.

Abstract: The present invention provides devices suitable for insertion into a body passage, wherein said devices comprise a conduit and a distal head region located at the distal end of said conduit, and wherein a plurality of apertures on the surface of said head region and conduit may be used to direct a liquid spray outwards from said device. The apertures are designed and spatially arranged such that when the device is inserted into a body passage, the liquid spray emitted from said apertures is capable of both reducing the frictional contact between the device and the walls of said passage and of cleansing said passage of undesired solid and other particulate matter.

Abstract: The present invention provides an anatomically-compatible and physiologically-compatible in vivo device for improving diastolic function of either the left or right ventricle of the heart, comprising at least one air-impermeable sheet that is capable of being operatively connected to the external ventricular surface of the heart using one or more connecting elements, such that said at least one air-impermeable sheet is capable of creating a sub-atmospheric pressure within said closed empty space as a consequence of changes in the volume of said space during the course of the cardiac cycle, thereby exerting an outward and normally directed force on the external ventricular surface of the heart.

Abstract: The present invention is primarily directed to a sleeve device comprising a thin-walled elongate internal tubular membrane which is suitable for being fitted around the external surface of an elongate medical instrument, wherein at least one longitudinally-disposed inflatable channel having a closed distal end is affixed to the outer surface of said membrane, and wherein each of said inflatable channels is capable of being expanded laterally such that an elongate medical instrument fitted with said sleeve and inserted into a body cavity would become anchored within said cavity, and such that the walls of said inflatable channel(s) would define the boundaries of one or more additional longitudinally-disposed large volume channels.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for improving diastolic function of the heart comprising elastic elements and attachment elements, wherein said elastic elements and said attachment elements are configured such that they are capable of being interconnected to form a chain formed of an alternating series of said elastic elements and said attachment elements, and wherein said attachment elements are adapted to be anchored in the wall of the heart and with option for drug delivery to the wall of the heart. The invention further provides devices, methods and kits, for mounting the ventricular function assisting device of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides a balloon catheter comprising: a hollow inner shaft disposed within a hollow outer shaft; a balloon attached at its proximal end to said outer shaft and at its distal end to said inner shaft; wherein the inner shaft is constructed such that following radial expansion of the balloon to a first expanded state, said inner shaft is capable of responding to further longitudinal expansion of the balloon to a second expanded state by increasing its length from a resting value, and of responding to subsequent partial deflation back to said first expanded state by reducing its length back to said resting value.

Abstract: The present invention is primarily directed to a rapid exchange catheter that permits axial movement of an inner conduit within an outer conduit comprising: • an outer conduit; • an inner conduit, suitable for total or partial passage over a guide wire, wherein said inner conduit is movably disposed within the lumen of said outer conduit, wherein the proximal end of said inner conduit is angled such that it pierces the wall of said outer conduit; • means for permitting axial movement of said inner conduit within said outer conduit, such that said movement is not hindered by the passage of the angled proximal part of the inner conduit through said outer conduit; and • means, situated at the proximal end of the outer conduit, for causing axial pushing-pulling movements of said inner conduit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a balloon catheter comprising: a hollow inner shaft disposed within a hollow outer shaft; a balloon attached at its proximal end to said outer shaft and at its distal end to said inner shaft; wherein the inner shaft is constructed such that following radial expansion of the balloon to a first expanded state, said inner shaft is capable of responding to further longitudinal expansion of the balloon to a second expanded state by increasing its length from a resting value, and of responding to subsequent partial deflation back to said first expanded state by reducing its length back to said resting value.

Abstract: The present invention is primarily directed towards an anatomically-compatible and physiologically-compatible in vivo device for improving diastolic function of either the left or right ventricle of the heart, wherein said device comprises at least one elastic component in the form of a lattice capable of being arranged in a curved conformation such that one surface of said lattice may be adapted to the curvature of the external ventricular surface of the heart, or a portion thereof, and wherein said at least one elastic component is capable of being operatively connected to the external ventricular surface of the heart by means of one or more connecting elements.

Abstract: The present invention provides an anatomically-compatible and physiologically-compatible in vivo device for improving diastolic function of either the left or right ventricle of the heart, comprising at least one air-impermeable sheet that is capable of being operatively connected to the external ventricular surface of the heart by means of one or more connecting elements, such that said at least one air-impermeable sheet is capable of creating a sub-atmospheric pressure within said closed empty space as a consequence of changes in the volume of said space during the course of the cardiac cycle, thereby exerting an outward and normally directed force on the external ventricular surface of the heart.

Abstract: The present invention provides a balloon catheter comprising: a hollow inner shaft disposed within a hollow outer shaft; a balloon attached at its proximal end to said outer shaft and at its distal end to said inner shaft; wherein the inner shaft is constructed such that following radial expansion of the balloon to a first expanded state, said inner shaft is capable of responding to further longitudinal expansion of the balloon to a second expanded state by increasing its length from a resting value, and of responding to subsequent partial deflation back to said first expanded state by reducing its length back to said resting value.