Venous valve apparatuses and methods for controlling blood flow

An apparatus for controlling blood flow in a vein of an individual, the vein including a wall defining a lumen through which blood flows, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one valve member configured to be positioned adjacent to an exterior surface of the vein of the individual and outside of the lumen of the vein, the at least one valve member configured to compress the vein when activated;
• at least one sensor configured to be positioned adjacent to the exterior surface of the vein, the sensor configured to sense one or more characteristics of blood flow through the lumen;
• and a controller coupled in communication with the at least one sensor and the at least one valve member, the controller configured to:
• receive, from the at least one sensor, a signal representing the one or more characteristics of blood flow;
• determine a direction of the blood flow based on the one or more characteristics;
• and in response to the determined direction of the blood flow being away from a heart of the individual, activate the at least one valve member to occlude the blood flow through the lumen away from the heart.