DEVICES, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING LOCAL BLOOD PRESSURE
A device for exposing a blood vessel to increased pressure, the device comprising an anchor capable of being positioned within a lumen of a blood vessel, and a particle capable of expanding, said particle in contact with the anchor. In at least one embodiment, the anchor is further capable of expanding so that the expanded anchor spans across a cross-sectional area of the lumen of the blood vessel.
1 . A device for exposing a blood vessel to increased pressure, the device comprising:
an anchor capable of being positioned within a lumen of a blood vessel; and
a particle capable of expanding, said particle in contact with the anchor.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the anchor is further capable of expanding so that the expanded anchor spans across a cross-sectional area of the lumen of the blood vessel.
3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the particle is contained within the anchor and is prevented by the anchor from flowing away in a direction of blood flow in the lumen of the blood vessel.
4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the particle expands gradually with exposure to blood.
5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the expanded particle thereby decreases the cross-sectional area of the lumen that is exposed to blood flow, resulting in a decrease in blood flow and an increase in pressure.
6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the particle is an ameroid pill.
7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the particle is contained within the anchor.
8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the particle is coupled to the anchor.
9 . A device for exposing a blood vessel to increased pressure, the device comprising:
an anchor capable of being positioned within a lumen of a blood vessel and is further capable of expanding so that the expanded anchor spans across a cross-sectional area of the lumen of the blood vessel; and
a particle capable of expanding, said particle contained within the anchor and prevented by the anchor from flowing away in a direction of blood flow in the lumen of the blood vessel;
whereby the particle expands with exposure to blood, thereby decreasing the cross-sectional area of the lumen that is exposed to blood flow, resulting in a decrease in blood flow and an increase in pressure.
10 . A system for exposing a blood vessel to increased pressure, the system comprising:
a catheter having a distal end;
an anchor removably coupled to the catheter at or near the distal end of the catheter, the anchor capable of being positioned within a lumen of a blood vessel; and
a particle capable of expanding, said particle being in contact with the anchor wherein the particle is contained within the anchor and is prevented by the anchor from flowing away in a direction of blood flow in the lumen of the blood vessel;
whereby the catheter is capable of introducing the anchor within the lumen of the blood vessel.
11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the anchor is further capable of expanding so that the expanded anchor spans across a cross-sectional area of the lumen of the blood vessel.
12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the particle expands gradually with exposure to blood.
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the expanded particle thereby decreases the cross-sectional area of the lumen that is exposed to blood flow, resulting in a decrease in blood flow and an increase in blood pressure.
14 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the particle is an ameroid pill.
15 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the particle is contained within the anchor.
16 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the particle is coupled to the anchor.
17 . A system for exposing a blood vessel to increased pressure to condition the blood vessel, the system comprising:
a catheter having a distal end;
an anchor capable of being positioned within a lumen of a blood vessel and is further capable of expanding so that the expanded anchor spans across a cross-sectional area of the lumen of the blood vessel; and
a particle capable of expanding, said particle contained within the anchor and prevented by the anchor from flowing away in a direction of blood flow in the lumen of the blood vessel;
whereby the catheter is capable of introducing the anchor within the lumen of the blood vessel; and
whereby the particle expands gradually with exposure to blood flow, thereby decreasing the cross-sectional area of the lumen that is exposed to blood flow, resulting in a decrease in blood flow and an increase in pressure.
18 . A method for exposing a blood pressure to increased pressure, the method comprising the step of:
introducing an anchor into a lumen of a blood vessel, said anchor having a particle in contact thereto;
wherein the particle decreases a cross-sectional area of the lumen as the particle expands in volume from being exposed to blood flow, resulting in decreased blood flow in the blood vessel.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the particle is an ameroid pill.
20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the particle is contained within the anchor.
21 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the particle is coupled to the anchor