TRANSTHORACIC CANNULA-TYPE DEVICE FOR CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION

• US 3,680,544 A
• Filed: 09/09/1970
• Issued: 08/01/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James F. Conroy, James P. Shinnick
• Original Assignee: James F. Conroy, James P. Shinnick
• Inventors: Shinnick, James P., Conroy, James F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Truluck, Dalton L.
• Application Number:
  US05/070,658
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2R,2M,2.5D,2.5F,349R,172.1,303.1,303.11,303.13,344,348,347,349B
• US Class Current: 600/581
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/00 Other methods or instruments for diagnosis, e.g. instruments for taking a cell sample, for biopsy, for vaccination diagnosis vaccination prophylaxis, vaccination therapy A61B17/20; Sex determination; Ovulation-period determination menstruation tables G06C3/00; Throat striking implements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10 Balloon catheters A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02; inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 ; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0587 Epicardial electrode systems; Endocardial electrodes piercing the pericardium

Abstract

A medical instrument, taking the general form of a flexible catheter or cannula, combines a passage for intracardiac drugs with an electrode or electrodes for applying an electrical stimulus to the heart. Designed primarily for use in emergency cardiopulmonary resuscitation procedures instituted in cases of cardiac arrest, the instrument incorporates an expansible stop collar at its tip that stabilizes its position following its penetration of the chest and heart walls, and in particular prevents accidental withdrawal or escape thereof. The stably positioned instrument affords the opportunity for external cardiac heart massage without danger of heart damage resulting from motion of the instrument that would normally occur if an instrument of this type is not removed during said external cardiac massage of the heart muscle.

Claims

1. A transthoracic, cannula-type medical instrument for use in cardiopulmonary resuscitation procedures comprising;

a. a flexible tubular member having normally closed valve means therein and being provided with a tip adapted to be positioned within the right ventricle of the heart muscle through the chest wall of a patient and providing a channel having an opening for the flow of liquid to the heart or for the removal of blood aliquots therefrom;

b. stop means carried by said tubular member and located adjacent said tip, said stop means being radially expandable outwardly with respect to the axis of said tIp into a position to engage the inner surface of the endocardium and limit subsequent axial movement of said tubular member;

c. means for applying an electrical stimulus to the heart muscle, including electrodes exposed on the outer surface of said tubular member;

d. said stop means and electrodes being so positioned with respect to each other that when said stop means are moved outward into contact with the inner surface of the endocardium, at least one of said electrodes will be held in contact with the heart muscle.

2. A medical instrument as in claim 1 wherein said means for applying an electrical stimulus further includes a path for an electrical current extending from the electrode within the wall of the tubular member and connectable remotely from the tip to a source of electrical current.

3. A medical instrument as in claim 1 wherein said electrode is in the form of a sleeve of electrically conductive material encircling said tubular member.

4. A medical instrument as in claim 3, further including an electrical lead embedded within and extending longitudinally of the wall of said tubular member, said lead at one end being electrically connected with said sleeve and at its other end being electrically connectable to a source of electrical current.

5. A medical instrument as in claim 1, further including a check valve within the tubular member to prevent backflow of said fluids.

6. A medical instrument as in claim 1, wherein said valve means includes a check valve in said member to prevent the backflow of fluids from the heart muscle, and a branch tube providing an auxiliary channel for liquids and connected with said member in communication therewith between said tip and check valve.

7. A medical instrument as in claim 1 wherein said stop means includes a hollow expansible element mounted upon said tip and further includes a conduit for an expansion fluid that extends within the wall of the tubular member in communication with the expansible element and with a source of expansion fluid under pressure, said means for applying an electrical stimulus including a pair of leads connected between the respective electrodes and a source of electrical current, said leads extending within the wall of the tubular member in angularly spaced relation to said conduit and to each other.

8. A medical instrument as in claim 7 wherein the expansible element is in the form of an annular collar encircling the tip of the tubular member and said electrodes are in the form of cylindrical sleeves that extend about the tubular member and are spaced longitudinally thereof from each other and from said collar.