Patent ID: 8221342

Claim:
A method for switching fluid flow in a body part, comprising: coupling a flow control system to a proximal and a distal side of a fluid inflow vessel and to a proximal and a distal side of a fluid outflow vessel of a body part, the flow control system configured to switch between a first configuration and a second configuration; and controlling the flow control system such that, in the first configuration, fluid in the proximal side of the fluid inflow vessel is redirected and delivered via the flow control system to the distal side of the fluid outflow vessel, and fluid in the distal side of the inflow vessel is redirected and delivered via the flow control system to the proximal side of the fluid outflow vessel so that the fluid is provided to the body part through the fluid outflow vessel and out of the body part through the fluid inflow vessel, and in the second configuration, fluid in the distal side of the fluid inflow vessel is delivered via the flow control system to the proximal side of the fluid inflow vessel, and fluid in the proximal side of the outflow vessel is delivered via the flow control system to the distal side of the fluid outflow vessel so that the fluid is provided to the body part through the fluid inflow vessel and out of the body part through the fluid outflow vessel.