Flow reducing implant

1 . A flow reducing implant, comprising:

a flared section adapted to contact a blood vessel wall;

at least one narrowed section continuous with said flared section; and

at least one anchor tab that lies generally in a plane of said flared section.

2 . An implant according to claim 1 , wherein said implant is formed of a sheet material and wherein said tab is attached to a portion of said flared section that is generally parallel to a wall of said blood vessel.

3 . An implant according to claim 2 , wherein said anchor tab points axially.

4 . An implant according to claim 1 , wherein said anchor tab points towards said narrowed section.

5 . An implant according to claim 1 , comprising at least two opposing anchor tabs.

6 . An implant according to claim 1 , comprising at least two flared sections, each one with at least one anchor tab.

7 . An implant according to claim 1 , wherein said implant is plastically deformed to said configuration.

8 . An implant according to claim 1 , wherein said implant self-deforms to said configuration.

9 . An implant according to claim 1 , wherein said anchor tabs are blunt enough to generally prevent damage to said blood vessel.

10 . A flow reducing implant, comprising:

a flared section adapted to contact a blood vessel wall; and

at least one narrowed section continuous with said flared section and adapted to be narrowed after implantation.

11 . An implant according to claim 10 , comprising an external ribbon adapted to selectively increasingly constrain said narrowing.

12 . An implant according to claim 11 , comprising an impulser adapted to receive signals from outside the body and constrain said ribbon in response.

13 . An implant according to claim 11 , wherein said ribbon is expandable.

14 . An implant according to claim 11 , wherein said ribbon is inflatable.

15 . An implant according to claim 13 , wherein said ribbon is self-expands by absorption.

16 . An implant according to claim 11 , wherein said ribbon is tearable.

17 . An implant according to claim 10 , wherein said narrowed section comprises a plurality of engagement points adapted to be engaged, for radial constriction, by a catheter with matching engagers.

18 . An implant according to claim 10 , wherein said narrowed section is adapted to be selectively widened after implantation.

19 . An implant according to claim 10 , wherein said narrowed section is inflatable.

20 . An implant according to claim 10 , wherein said narrowed section is expandable in thickness.

21 . A flow reducing implant, comprising:

a flared section adapted to contact a blood vessel wall;

at least one narrowed section continuous with said flared section; and

at least ribbon coupled to said narrowed section and adapted to define at least two discrete expansion states of said narrowed section.

22 . An implant according to claim 21 , wherein said at least one ribbon comprises a tearable ribbon.

23 . An implant according to claim 21 , wherein said at least one ribbon comprises a ribbon with a sliding clasp and a plurality of stop positions defined thereon.

24 . An implant according to claim 21 , wherein said at least one ribbon comprises a plurality of ribbons, being different in at least one of initial diameter, tear strength and final diameter.

25 . An implant according to claim 21 , wherein said at least one ribbon comprises a slitted ribbon having a first diameter and a second diameter set by said slits being closed or expanded.

26 . An implant according to claim 21 , wherein said at least one ribbon comprises a cord woven into said narrowed section.

27 . An implant according to claim 21 , wherein said at least one ribbon lies outside of said narrowed section.

28 . An implant according to claim 21 , wherein said at least one ribbon is biodegradable.

29 . An implant according to claim 21 , wherein said at least one ribbon blocks flow through a wall of said narrowed section.

30 . A flow reducing implant, comprising:

a flared section adapted to contact a blood vessel wall;

at least one narrowed section continuous with said flared section,

wherein said implant comprises at least one overlapping section, whose overlap changes when said narrowed section is expanded.

31 . An implant according to claim 30 , wherein said overlap comprises a plurality of overlapping cut-outs of said implant.

32 . An implant according to claim 30 , wherein said overlap comprises an overlap of substantially an entire length of said implant.

33 . A flow reducing implant, comprising:

a stent-like element adapted to anchor in a tubular blood vessel; and

a flexible cone-shaped nozzle mounted on said stent, said cone shaped nozzle defining a narrowing that substantially reduces a cross-section of blood flow through said sent-like element.

34 . An implant according to claim 33 , wherein said nozzle comprises at least one stiffener.

35 . A flow reducing implant, comprising:

an open weave mesh that does not substantially impede blood flow, therethrough; and

a layer of graft material mounted on said mesh and defining a narrowed lumen for blood flow therethrough.

36 . An implant according to claim 35 , wherein said open weave mesh forms an hourglass shape when expanded in said graft material layer.

37 . A flow reducing implant, comprising:

a flared section adapted to contact a blood vessel wall; and

at least one narrowed section continuous with said flared section,

wherein said implant is defined by a sheet material with slots and wherein a width of said slots varies over the implant to control an expanded geometry of said implant.

38 . A flow reducing implant, comprising:

a flared section adapted to contact a blood vessel wall; and

at least one narrowed section continuous with said flared section,

wherein said implant is defined by a sheet material with slots and wherein said slots are arranged in axial lines and wherein said alternating lines have different lengths of slots at a same axial position.

39 . A flow reducing implant for reducing blood flow in a blood vessel, comprising:

a body having a cross sectional dimension; and

a restricting element that at least partially encircles a blood vessel.

40 . A flow reducing implant according to claim 39 , wherein said element pierces said blood vessel.

41 . A flow reducing implant according to claim 40 , wherein said element comprises a tack or a suture.

42 . A flow reducing implant according to claim 39 , wherein said element comprises a band.

43 . A flow reducing implant according to claim 42 , wherein said band comprises a ratchet mechanism that maintains it in position in respect to said vessel.

44 . A flow reducing implant according to claim 42 , wherein said band comprises a plurality of expandable slits.

45 . A flow reducing implant according to claim 39 , wherein said element comprises one of a clip, clasp and vise.

46 . A flow reducing implant according to claim 39 , wherein said element comprises a spiral.

47 . A flow reducing implant according to claim 39 , wherein said element comprises an expandable material.

48 . A flow reducing implant according to claim 47 , wherein said element is adapted to expand by expansion pressure from the interior of said blood vessel.

49 . A flow reducing implant according to claim 48 , wherein said implant is adapted to expand in response to expansion pressure of a balloon catheter.

50 . A method of treating abnormal growth in the body, comprising:

determining a source artery for the growth; and

inserting a flow reducing implant with an adjustable configuration into the determined artery, such that flow to the growth is reduced.

51 . A method according to claim 50 , wherein said growth is extant in an organ that is fed from multiple source arteries.

52 . A method according to claim 50 , wherein said growth is fed by a single source artery.

53 . A method according to claim 50 , wherein said growth comprises a leiomyoma.

54 . A method according to claim 50 , wherein said growth comprises a malignant tumor.

55 . A method according to claim 54 , wherein said tumor is a liver tumor.

56 . A method according to claim 54 , wherein said tumor is an encapsulated tumor.

57 . A method of treating blood flow problems in a limb, comprising:

identifying at least one vein that if flow in the vein is reduced is expected to reduce the blood flow problem; and

inserting a flow reducing implant into the determined vein.

58 . A method according to claim 57 , wherein said vein is a deep vein.

59 . A method according to claim 57 , wherein said vein is a surface vein.

60 . A flow reducing implant comprising:

an outer generally tubular section adapted to be inserted in a blood vessel; and

an insert adapted to lodge in said tubular section, said insert designed to reduce blood flow passing through the blood vessel.

61 . A flow reducing implant according to claim 60 , wherein said generally tubular section is designed to reduce blood flow passing therethrough.

62 . A flow reducing implant according to claim 60 , wherein said insert comprises a funnel shaped insert.

63 . A flow reducing implant according to claim 60 , wherein said generally tubular section is designed to not reduce blood flow passing therethrough.

64 . A flow reducing implant according to claim 60 , wherein said generally tubular section comprises a plurality of opening in its wall and wherein said insert comprises a plurality of opening in its wall.

65 . An implant according to claim 64 , wherein said insert and said tubular section are rotationally alignable to modify an alignment of said pluralities of openings with each other.

66 . A method of reducing flow in a blood vessel, comprising:

selecting a location in the vessel to narrow;

inserting a flow reducing implant into the blood vessel at the location; and

mounting a restricting element on said vessel at the location and over said flow reducing implant.

67 . A method according to claim 66 , wherein said restricting element reduces an inner diameter of said flow reducing implant.

68 . A method according to claim 67 , comprising removing said restricting element.