Abstract: Described is a method of stabilizing blood vessel wall abnormality. The method includes ultrasonically heating at least a portion of the blood vessel wall having the abnormality; monitoring a parameter related to a property of at least a portion of the heated portion of the blood vessel wall; and stopping the heating when the monitored parameter changes by a predetermined factor or after the monitored parameter changes in a slow enough rate. The slow enough rate may be, for instance, a predetermined fraction of a maximal rate change observed during heating.

Abstract: Hybrid hydrogels formed of a plurality of peptides that are capable of self-assembling into a hydrogel in an aqueous solution and a biocompatible polymer that is characterized by high swelling capability, high elasticity and low mechanical strength are disclosed, with exemplary hybrid hydrogels being formed of a plurality of aromatic dipeptides and hyaluronic acid. The hybrid hydrogels are characterized by controllable mechanical and biological properties which can be adjusted by controlling the concentration ratio of the peptides and the polymer, and which average the mechanical and biological properties of the peptides and the polymer. Processes of preparing the hydrogels and uses thereof in pharmaceutical, cosmetic or cosmeceutic applications such as tissue engineering and/or regeneration are further disclosed.

Abstract: Catheter cannula, catheter, and catheterization method, for administering a fluid or/and substance to, or for draining a fluid or/and substance from, a treatment space of a body vessel, duct, or cavity. In some embodiments the cannula includes: an elongated flexible tube mountable on a needle, and having an invasive section and a non-invasive section; and at least one anchoring element protruding from, a surface of the invasive section in a manner such that an operative configuration of each anchoring element increases outer circumferential diameter of the cannula to an extent less than lumen diameter of the body vessel, duct, or cavity, at the treatment space, thereby anchoring the invasive section to inside the body vessel, duct, or cavity, at the treatment space. The catheter includes a needle and the cannula mounted thereupon.

Abstract: Hybrid hydrogels formed of a plurality of peptides that are capable of self-assembling into a hydrogel in an aqueous solution and a biocompatible polymer that is characterized by high swelling capability, high elasticity and low mechanical strength are disclosed, with exemplary hybrid hydrogels being formed of a plurality of aromatic dipeptides and hyaluronic acid. The hybrid hydrogels are characterized by controllable mechanical and biological properties which can be adjusted by controlling the concentration ratio of the peptides and the polymer, and which average the mechanical and biological properties of the peptides and the polymer. Processes of preparing the hydrogels and uses thereof in pharmaceutical, cosmetic or cosmeceutic applications such as tissue engineering and/or regeneration are further disclosed.

Abstract: Hybrid hydrogels formed of a plurality of peptides that are capable of self-assembling into a hydrogel in an aqueous solution and a biocompatible polymer that is characterized by high swelling capability, high elasticity and low mechanical strength are disclosed, with exemplary hybrid hydrogels being formed of a plurality of aromatic dipeptides and hyaluronic acid. The hybrid hydrogels are characterized by controllable mechanical and biological properties which can be adjusted by controlling the concentration ratio of the peptides and the polymer, and which average the mechanical and biological properties of the peptides and the polymer. Processes of preparing the hydrogels and uses thereof in pharmaceutical, cosmetic or cosmeceutic applications such as tissue engineering and/or regeneration are further disclosed.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method and/or device are disclosed for measuring a pressure drop over a portion of a body lumen. Optionally, the pressure drop for two different flow conditions may be used to find the stiffness of the lumen. In some embodiments the device may be calibrated, for example by correcting for distortion, for example the common mode pressure distortion. Pressure drop and or stiffness measures may be used to evaluate a treatment procedure and/or a stenosis.

Abstract: Hybrid hydrogels formed of a plurality of peptides that are capable of self-assembling into a hydrogel in an aqueous solution and a biocompatible polymer that is characterized by high swelling capability, high elasticity and low mechanical strength are disclosed, with exemplary hybrid hydrogels being formed of a plurality of aromatic dipeptides and hyaluronic acid. The hybrid hydrogels are characterized by controllable mechanical and biological properties which can be adjusted by controlling the concentration ratio of the peptides and the polymer, and which average the mechanical and biological properties of the peptides and the polymer. Processes of preparing the hydrogels and uses thereof in pharmaceutical, cosmetic or cosmeceutic applications such as tissue engineering and/or regeneration are further disclosed.

Abstract: Hybrid hydrogels formed of a plurality of peptides that are capable of self-assembling into a hydrogel in an aqueous solution and a biocompatible polymer that is characterized by high swelling capability, high elasticity and low mechanical strength are disclosed, with exemplary hybrid hydrogels being formed of a plurality of aromatic dipeptides and hyaluronic acid. The hybrid hydrogels are characterized by controllable mechanical and biological properties which can be adjusted by controlling the concentration ratio of the peptides and the polymer, and which average the mechanical and biological properties of the peptides and the polymer. Processes of preparing the hydrogels and uses thereof in pharmaceutical, cosmetic or cosmeceutic applications such as tissue engineering and/or regeneration are further disclosed.

Abstract: Catheter cannula, catheter, and catheterization method, for administering a fluid or/and substance to, or for draining a fluid or/and substance from, a treatment space of a body vessel, duct, or cavity. In some embodiments the cannula includes: an elongated flexible tube mountable on a needle, and having an invasive section and a non-invasive section; and at least one anchoring element protruding from, a surface of the invasive section in a manner such that an operative configuration of each anchoring element increases outer circumferential diameter of the cannula to an extent less than lumen diameter of the body vessel, duct, or cavity, at the treatment space, thereby anchoring the invasive section to inside the body vessel, duct, or cavity, at the treatment space. The catheter includes a needle and the cannula mounted thereupon.

Abstract: A method of determining endothelial dependent vasoactivity of a subject, the method is effected by recording pressure-related signals of a plurality of locations adjacent to at least one blood vessel; extracting at least one parameter from the pressure-related signals; and using the at least one parameter to determine a change of at least one characteristic of the at least one blood vessel, the change being representative of endothelial functioning; thereby determining the endothelial dependent vasoactivity of the subject.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and system for monitoring drug regimen compliance, the system utilizing a Radio Frequency Identification (RfID) tag affixed to a pharmaceutical agent and a wearable RFID reader that identifies a patient. The RFID tag identifies the pharmaceutical agent and the RFID reader wirelessly communicates with a central monitoring system upon ingestion of the pharmaceutical agent.

Abstract: Described is a method of stabilizing blood vessel wall abnormality. The method includes ultrasonically heating at least a portion of the blood vessel wall having the abnormality; monitoring a parameter related to a property of at least a portion of the heated portion of the blood vessel wall; and stopping the heating when the monitored parameter changes by a predetermined factor or after the monitored parameter changes in a slow enough rate. The slow enough rate may be, for instance, a predetermined fraction of a maximal rate change observed during heating.

Abstract: A method of determining endothelial dependent vasoactivity of a subject, the method is effected by recording pressure-related signals of a plurality of locations adjacent to at least one blood vessel; extracting at least one parameter from the pressure-related signals; and using the at least one parameter to determine a change of at least one characteristic of the at least one blood vessel, the change being representative of endothelial functioning; thereby determining the endothelial dependent vasoactivity of the subject.

Abstract: A method of determining endothelial dependent vasoactivity of a subject, the method is effected by recording pressure-related signals of a plurality of locations adjacent to at least one blood vessel; extracting at least one parameter from the pressure-related signals; and using the at least one parameter to determine a change of at least one characteristic of the at least one blood vessel, the change being representative of endothelial functioning; thereby determining the endothelial dependent vasoactivity of the subject.

Abstract: A method of determining endothelial dependent vasoactivity of a subject, the method is effected by recording pressure-related signals of a plurality of locations adjacent to at least one blood vessel; extracting at least one parameter from the pressure-related signals; and using the at least one parameter to determine a change of at least one characteristic of the at least one blood vessel, the change being representative of endothelial functioning; thereby determining the endothelial dependent vasoactivity of the subject.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for determining the degree of partial occlusion of a conduit, comprising the steps of:a) producing a graphical plot of fluid pressure versus fluid flow rate through said conduit;b) determining the value of one or more of the following variables:(iv) the PFLA variable consisting of the area enclosed by said graphical plot;(v) the slope of the line joining the two inflection points situated at the extremities of the major axis of said graphical plot;(vi) the y-axis intercept of the line joining the two inflection points situated at the extremities of the major axis of said graphical plot;c) determining the degree of partial occlusion of said conduit by comparing one or more of the above variables, with an appropriate calibration curve, said calibration curve comprising values of the chosen variable for a conduit of the same type as the tested conduit, at predetermined known degrees of occlusion.

Abstract: An ultrasonic recanalization system includes an ultrasonic transducer member energized by a switch and connected to a console containing control elements. The transducer transfers ultrasonic energy through a tube into a patient's artery through a triple lumen catheter. The tube has at its end a bent portion with a flexible tip and the catheter has a flow blocking device which is inflatable to secure the position of the tip of the hollowed tube in the artery and to obstruct the flow of blood near a stenosis site in the artery. A liquid solution can be pumped into a concentric canal passage around the hollowed tube and the solution can then flow out through the hollowed tube after washing off the stenosis splinters.