Method and apparatus for pressurizing the right atrium or right ventricle to assist cardiac function during beating heart surgery
US6306116A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 30, 1999 |
| Grant date | Oct 23, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 30, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61M1/3667
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus for pressurizing the right atrium or right ventricle of a beating heart during surgery to assist cardiac function. The apparatus has an intake tube for insertion in the inferior or superior vena cava, a return tube for insertion in the right atrium or right ventricle, and a pump (e.g., a peristaltic pump). In operation, blood is pumped from the vena cava into an intake port of the intake tube, from the intake tube through the pump to the return tube, and from the return tube to the right atrium or right ventricle. Optionally, a balloon mounted around the intake tube's distal end is inflated to center the intake port in the vena cava and provide a pressure bulkhead. The pump preferably pumps blood in one direction from an input port to an output port. Alternatively, the intake and return tubes are branches of a single Y-tube, and the pump has one port coupled to the tube and a two-stage operating cycle: a stage which draws blood in from the tube through the port; and a stage which returns the blood in the opposite direction through the port to the tube. Preferably, the apparatus includes a return manifold (through which the intake tube passes) at the distal en…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.