Patent · US Expired

Piston-action intra-aortic coronary assist device

US6149578A · kind A · utility

29Cited by
10References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 4, 1999
Grant dateNov 21, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 4, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61M60/857
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An intra-aortic balloon assist device is used to increase blood flow to the coronary arteries of an injured heart. The device comprises an expandable member that is placed within the ascending aorta of the patient, coupled to a flexible tube made of standard catheter material. The flexible tube is coupled to a blood flow control means within the descending portion of the patient's aorta. When operating, the blood flow control means pumps a surge of oxygenated blood through the flexible tube and expandable member into the area around the ascending portion of the aorta. The expandable member is operated in successive stages. The first stage is a collapsed stage, which is a completely depressurized stage of the member. In the second, blocking stage, the member blocks off the aorta to create a closed volume around the ascending portion of the aorta. In the third, blocking-pumping stage, the member expands in the direction of the coronary arteries simultaneous to the surge of blood supplied by the blood flow control means to force oxygenated blood within the closed volume--blood supplied by the blood flow control means and blood already within the closed volume--towards the coronary ost…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.