Aortic pressure loss reduction apparatus and methods

Apparatus comprising:

• an aortic pressure-loss-reduction device configured to be implanted inside an ascending aorta of a subject, the aortic pressure-loss-reduction device comprising:
• a frame that is configured, in a non-constrained configuration thereof, to define:
• an upstream anchor portion configured to radially expand against an inner wall of the subject's ascending aorta, such as to anchor an upstream end of the aortic pressure-loss-reduction device to the subject's ascending aorta;
• an intermediate portion configured to define a conduit therethrough, such that blood is configured to flow through the device via the conduit, at least a portion of the conduit diverging, such that a downstream end of the diverging portion has a greater cross-sectional area than an upstream end of the diverging portion;
• a downstream anchor portion configured to radially expand against the inner wall of the subject's ascending aorta, such as to anchor a downstream end of the aortic pressure-loss-reduction device to the subject's ascending aorta;
• a first set of angled struts disposed between a downstream end of the upstream anchor portion and an upstream end of the intermediate portion, the angled struts being shaped to form a folded portion between the downstream end of the upstream anchor portion and the upstream end of the intermediate portion;
• the angled struts being configured such that, in response to a diameter of the upstream anchor portion changing by an absolute amount, an absolute change in a diameter of the upstream end of the intermediate portion is less than the absolute amount by which the diameter of the upstream anchor portion changes;
• and
• a material layer coupled to at least a portion of the frame, the material layer configured to impede blood flow therethrough,
• wherein the upstream end of the intermediate portion is reinforced with respect to at least a longitudinally-central portion of the intermediate portion.

Apparatus comprising:

• an aortic pressure-loss-reduction device configured to be implanted inside an ascending aorta of a subject, the aortic pressure-loss-reduction device comprising:
• a frame that is configured, in a non-constrained configuration thereof, to define:
• an upstream anchor portion configured to radially expand against an inner wall of the subject's ascending aorta, such as to anchor an upstream end of the aortic pressure-loss-reduction device to the subject's ascending aorta;
• an intermediate portion configured to define a conduit therethrough, such that blood is configured to flow through the device via the conduit, at least a portion of the conduit diverging, such that a downstream end of the diverging portion has a greater cross-sectional area than an upstream end of the diverging portion;
• a downstream anchor portion configured to radially expand against the inner wall of the subject's ascending aorta, such as to anchor a downstream end of the aortic pressure-loss-reduction device to the subject's ascending aorta;
• a first set of angled struts disposed between a downstream end of the upstream anchor portion and an upstream end of the intermediate portion, the angled struts being shaped to form a folded portion between the downstream end of the upstream anchor portion and the upstream end of the intermediate portion;
• the angled struts being configured such that, in response to a diameter of the upstream anchor portion changing by an absolute amount, an absolute change in a diameter of the upstream end of the intermediate portion is less than the absolute amount by which the diameter of the upstream anchor portion changes;
• a material layer coupled to at least a portion of the frame, the material layer configured to impede blood flow therethrough;
• and
• a second set of angled struts disposed between an upstream end of the downstream anchor portion and a downstream end of the intermediate portion, the second set of angled struts being shaped to form a folded portion between the upstream end of the downstream anchor portion and the downstream end of the intermediate portion.

Apparatus comprising:

• an aortic pressure-loss-reduction device configured to be implanted inside an ascending aorta of a subject, the aortic pressure-loss-reduction device comprising:
• a frame that is configured, in a non-constrained configuration thereof, to define:
• an upstream anchor portion configured to radially expand against an inner wall of the subject's ascending aorta, such as to anchor an upstream end of the aortic pressure-loss-reduction device to the subject's ascending aorta;
• an intermediate portion configured to define a conduit therethrough, such that blood is configured to flow through the device via the conduit, at least a portion of the conduit diverging, such that a downstream end of the diverging portion has a greater cross-sectional area than an upstream end of the diverging portion;
• a downstream anchor portion configured to radially expand against the inner wall of the subject's ascending aorta, such as to anchor a downstream end of the aortic pressure-loss-reduction device to the subject's ascending aorta;
• a first set of angled struts disposed between a downstream end of the upstream anchor portion and an upstream end of the intermediate portion, the angled struts being shaped to form a folded portion between the downstream end of the upstream anchor portion and the upstream end of the intermediate portion;
• the angled struts being configured such that, in response to a diameter of the upstream anchor portion changing by an absolute amount, an absolute change in a diameter of the upstream end of the intermediate portion is less than the absolute amount by which the diameter of the upstream anchor portion changes;
• and
• a material layer coupled to at least a portion of the frame, the material layer configured to impede blood flow therethrough,
• wherein the intermediate portion of the frame is configured to be flexible, by the intermediate portion of the frame including struts that form a spiral, such that at least upon the aortic pressure-loss-reduction device being implanted inside the subject's ascending aorta, the intermediate portion of the frame curves such as to conform with a curvature of the ascending aorta.

Apparatus comprising:

• an aortic pressure-loss-reduction device configured to be implanted inside an ascending aorta of a subject, the aortic pressure-loss-reduction device comprising:
• a frame that is configured, in a non-constrained configuration thereof, to define:
• an upstream anchor portion configured to radially expand against an inner wall of the subject's ascending aorta, such as to anchor an upstream end of the aortic pressure-loss-reduction device to the subject's ascending aorta;
• an intermediate portion configured to define a conduit therethrough, such that blood is configured to flow through the device via the conduit, at least a portion of the conduit diverging, such that a downstream end of the diverging portion has a greater cross-sectional area than an upstream end of the diverging portion;
• a downstream anchor portion configured to radially expand against the inner wall of the subject's ascending aorta, such as to anchor a downstream end of the aortic pressure-loss-reduction device to the subject's ascending aorta;
• a first piece of material coupled to the frame, the first piece of material configured to impede blood flow therethrough;
• and
• a second piece of material coupled to the frame, the second piece of material configured to impede blood flow therethrough,
• the second piece of material being stitched to the first piece of material at a longitudinal location that varies around a circumference of the device when the device is disposed in a radially-constrained configuration.