Adjustable implantable devices and associated methods

A system for treating a patient, the system comprising:

• an interatrial shunt configured to be implanted in the patient to fluidly connect a left atrium and a right atrium of the patient's heart, the shunt including:
• a frame sized and shaped to interface with an opening in a septal wall of the patient, and
• an actuation section that is bi-directionally adjustable along at least one dimension to adjust a shunt lumen extending through the actuation section, wherein the actuation section includes a shape memory component forming part of the lumen and that is transitionable, in response to being heated above a transition temperature, between (a) a first material state in which the shape memory component is mechanically adjustable, and (b) a second material state in which the shape memory component is biased toward a preferred geometry, and wherein the transition temperature is greater than body temperature,
• wherein the shunt is configured such that a geometry and footprint of the frame remains stable when the at least one dimension of the actuation section is adjusted;
• and
• an assembly for bi-directionally adjusting the at least one dimension of the actuation section, the assembly including:
• an elongated shaft extending between a proximal complex and a distal complex, wherein the distal complex includes a flow obstruction feature sized and shaped to temporarily reduce a flow of fluid through the shunt lumen;
• one or more energy delivery elements configured to directly and/or indirectly heat the shape memory component while the flow of fluid through the shunt lumen is temporarily reduced via the flow obstruction feature, wherein heating the shape memory component above the transition temperature decreases the at least one dimension by causing the shape memory component to move toward its preferred geometry;
• and
• an expandable member configured to selectively increase the at least one dimension when the shape memory component is in the first material state.

A system for treating a patient, the system comprising:

• an interatrial shunt configured to be implanted in the patient to fluidly connect a left atrium and a right atrium of the patient's heart, the shunt including:
• a frame sized and shaped to interface with an opening in a septal wall of the patient, and
• an actuation section that is adjustable along at least one dimension to adjust a shunt lumen extending through the actuation section, wherein the actuation section includes a shape memory component forming part of the lumen and that is transitionable, in response to being heated above a transition temperature, between (a) a first material state in which the shape memory component is mechanically adjustable, and (b) a second material state in which the shape memory component is biased toward a preferred geometry, and wherein the transition temperature is greater than body temperature,
• wherein the shunt is configured such that a geometry and footprint of the frame remains stable when the at least one dimension of the actuation section is adjusted;
• and
• an assembly for adjusting the at least one dimension of the actuation section, the assembly including:
• an elongated shaft extending between a proximal complex and a distal complex, wherein the distal complex includes one or more positioning elements configured to stabilize the distal complex proximate the actuation section and/or align the distal complex with the actuation section;
• and
• one or more energy delivery elements configured to directly and/or indirectly heat the shape memory component while the one or more positioning elements stabilize and/or align the distal complex, wherein heating the shape memory component above the transition temperature adjusts the at least one dimension by causing the shape memory component to move toward its preferred geometry.