Flow modification devices in body lumens
AssigneeNephronyx Ltd.
InventorsSagy Karavany, Oren Moshe Rotman, Eyal Teichman, Tanhum Feld, Menashe Yacoby, Boaz Nishri
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Abstract
The devices and methods described herein include a body lumen fluid flow modulator including an upstream flow accelerator and a downstream flow decelerator. The fluid flow modulator preferably includes one or more openings that define a gap/entrainment region that provides a pathway through which additional fluid from a branch lumen(s) is entrained into the fluid stream flowing from the upstream flow accelerator to the downstream flow decelerator.
Claims28
A device for altering fluid flow through a body lumen, the body lumen coupled to a branch lumen, the device comprising:
- a flow modulator configured to be positioned within the body lumen, the flow modulator comprising an upstream component, a downstream component, and an entrainment region, the upstream component having an inlet, an outlet, and a cross-sectional flow area that converges from the inlet towards the outlet, the downstream component having an entry, an exit, and a cross-sectional flow area that diverges from the entry towards the exit, and the entrainment region comprising a diverging portion and a plurality of longitudinally extending openings radially spaced around the diverging portion of the entrainment region, the entrainment region between the inlet of the upstream component and the exit of the downstream component,
- wherein the flow modulator is configured to accelerate a fluid stream passing through the upstream component towards the downstream component to generate a low pressure region in the vicinity of the entrainment region that entrains additional fluid into the fluid stream via the plurality of longitudinally extending openings as the fluid stream passes into the entry of the downstream component.
A method for altering fluid flow through a body lumen, the body lumen coupled to a branch lumen, the method comprising:
- positioning a flow modulator within a body lumen, the flow modulator comprising an upstream component, a downstream component, and an entrainment region, the upstream component being positioned in a first body lumen portion and having an inlet, an outlet, and a cross-sectional flow area that converges from the inlet towards the outlet, the downstream component being positioned in a second body lumen portion and having an entry, an exit, and a cross-sectional flow area that diverges from the entry towards the exit, and the entrainment region being positioned in a third body lumen portion between the inlet of the upstream component and the exit of the downstream component, the entrainment region comprising a diverging portion and a plurality of longitudinally extending openings radially spaced around the diverging portion of the entrainment region;
- and
- accelerating a fluid stream passing through the upstream component towards the downstream component to generate a low pressure region in the vicinity of the entrainment region and to entrain additional fluid into the fluid stream via the plurality of longitudinally extending openings as the fluid stream passes into the entry of the downstream component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.