Methods for managing blood flow

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for pumping blood within a blood vessel are described. The methods and apparatuses can be used for renal decongestion by pumping blood through the kidney(s), thereby increasing a pressure gradient across the kidney(s). The apparatuses can include one or more inflatable elements that can be repeatedly inflated and deflated to cause a pumping action within the blood vessel. In some embodiments, the one or more inflatable elements are positioned within one or more stents.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of increasing a flow rate of blood, the method comprising:
 inserting a device within a blood vessel, the device comprising:   a hollow covered stent body having a first end and a second end,   a first one-way valve at the first end of the hollow covered stent body,   a second one-way valve at the second end of the hollow covered stent body,   a catheter connected to the hollow covered stent body, and   a balloon within the hollow covered stent body between the first one-way valve and the second one-way valve; and   increasing antegrade flow through the blood vessel by repeatedly deflating the balloon to pull blood through the first one-way valve into the hollow covered stent body and inflating the balloon to push blood from the hollow covered stent body through the second one-way valve.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the balloon is an integral part of a liner positioned along an inner circumference of the hollow covered stent body, and wherein inflating the balloon comprises providing inflation fluid between the liner and the inner circumference of the hollow covered stent body. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein increasing a flow rate of blood through the blood vessel by repeatedly deflating the balloon to pull blood through the first one-way valve into the hollow covered stent body and inflating the balloon to push blood from the hollow covered stent body through the second one-way valve comprises supplying and removing a fluid to and from the balloon with the catheter. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein inflating the balloon comprises substantially filling a lumen of the hollow covered stent body. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein repeatedly inflating and deflating the balloon comprises inflating and deflating the balloon at a frequency of at least 0.5 to 3 times a normal heart rate. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein repeatedly inflating and deflating the balloon comprises inflating and deflating the balloon at a frequency of about 30-180 inflations and deflations per minute. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising inflating within the blood vessel an occlusion balloon of the device to restrict a flow of blood through the blood vessel while repeatedly deflating and inflating the balloon, wherein the occlusion balloon is positioned along the catheter. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein inserting the device within the blood vessel comprises inserting the device within a renal artery or a renal vein, the method further comprising positioning the occlusion balloon within the blood vessel such that it is on an opposite side of a kidney from the hollow covered stent body. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein blood from the blood vessel flows into a vein or artery leading to a kidney or other organ having venous congestion, the method further comprising inflating an occlusion balloon within the blood vessel while repeatedly deflating and inflating the balloon, wherein the device is positioned such that the occlusion balloon is in the vessel on one side of the vein or artery and the hollow covered stent body is in the vessel on the other side of the vein or artery and the occlusion balloon restricts a flow of blood through the blood vessel on the one side. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein inserting a device within the blood vessel comprises inserting the device within an aorta or a vena cava. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein inserting a device within the blood vessel comprises inserting the device within a renal artery or a renal vein. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein inserting a device within a blood vessel comprises inserting the device into a descending aorta so as to decrease afterload on a left ventricle by decreasing pressure at the first end of the hollow covered stent body. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein inserting a device within a blood vessel comprises inserting the device into a renal vein and across a hepatic vein so as to decompress the liver. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein inserting a device within a blood vessel comprises placing the device via femoral artery or femoral vein access with the aid of a guide wire. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising removing the device from the blood vessel after increasing antegrade flow. 
     
     
         16 . A method of increasing a blood flow rate, the method comprising:
 inserting a device within a blood vessel, the device comprising:   a hollow covered stent body having a first end and a second end,   a catheter connected to the hollow covered stent body,   a first one-way valve at the first end of the hollow covered stent body,   a second one-way valve at the second end of the hollow covered stent body, and a balloon within the hollow covered stent body between the first one-way valve and the second one-way valve; and   increasing antegrade flow through the blood vessel by repeatedly deflating the balloon to pull blood through the first one-way valve into the hollow covered stent body and inflating the balloon to push blood from the hollow covered stent body through the second one-way valve, wherein repeatedly inflating and deflating the balloon comprises inflating and deflating the balloon at a frequency of about 30-180 inflations and deflations per minute.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein inserting a device within the blood vessel comprises inserting the device within an aorta or a vena cava. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein inserting a device within the blood vessel comprises inserting the device within a renal artery or a renal vein. 
     
     
         19 . A method of increasing a flow rate of blood, the method comprising:
 inserting a device within a blood vessel, the device comprising:   a hollow covered stent body having a first end and a second end,   a catheter connected to the hollow covered stent body,   a first one-way valve at the first end of the hollow covered stent body,   a second one-way valve at the second end of the hollow covered stent body, and a balloon within the hollow covered stent body between the first one-way valve and the second one-way valve;   inflating within the blood vessel an occlusion balloon of the device to restrict a flow of blood through the blood vessel, wherein the occlusion balloon is positioned along the catheter; and   increasing antegrade flow through the blood vessel by repeatedly deflating the balloon to pull blood through the first one-way valve into the hollow covered stent body and inflating the balloon to push blood from the hollow covered stent body through the second one-way valve.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein inserting a device within the blood vessel comprises inserting the device within a renal artery or a renal vein.