Heart assist method and catheter

• US 3,995,617 A
• Filed: 05/31/1972
• Issued: 12/07/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: David H. Watkins, Erwin J. Klink
• Original Assignee: David H. Watkins, Erwin J. Klink
• Inventors: Watkins, David H., Klink, Erwin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Truluck, Dalton L.
• Application Number:
  US05/258,272
• Time in Patent Office: 1,651 Days
• Field of Search: 128/1 D, 128/214 R, 128/274, 128/348, 417/387, 417/478-479, 417/566
• US Class Current: 600/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00783 Valvuloplasty
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3659 Cannulae pertaining to extracorporeal circulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0076 Unidirectional valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/32 with radio-opaque indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0075 Valve means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0108 using radio-opaque or ultrasound markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/13 by means of a catheter allowing explantation, e.g. catheter pumps temporarily introduced via the vascular system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/174 discharging the blood to the ventricle or arterial system via a cannula internal to the ventricle or arterial system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/247 Positive displacement blood pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/833 Occluders for preventing backflow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/894 Passive valves, i.e. valves actuated by the blood

Abstract

Method and device for augmenting the action of an ailing heart having an incompetent aortic valve or incompetent left ventricle wherein blood is directly sucked from the left ventricle, while blocking flow to the aorta, and then upon reverse cycle, the blood removed is forced into the aorta, while blocking flow back into the left ventricle.

Claims

1. Method for augmenting the action of an ailing heart having a left ventricle and associated aorta wherein an open-ended catheter, with further opening back from said open end, is inserted into the aorta with open end within the left ventricle and said further opening outside of the same, comprising in sequential operation sucking blood from said left ventricle by way of the open end of said catheter during systolic pulsation, while blocking a back-flow of blood from said associated aorta;

and during reverse cycle, or diastolic pulsation, forcing blood back through said catheter and into the aorta by way of said further opening while blocking a flow back into the said left ventricle.

2. A heart assist device for pumping blood directly from the left ventricle into the aorta past the aortic valve comprising catheter means including an elongated member with an axial bore therein and having a distal end for insertion into the left ventricle, said distal end having a tip portion, said tip portion having therein an opening in fluid communication with said bore, said distal end also being provided with a second set of openings axially spaced from said tip opening, said second set of openings also communicating with said bore, first check valve means associated with said tip opening and closing same during first predetermined intervals and opening same during second predetermined intervals and second check valve means associated with said second set of openings and closing said second set of openings during said second predetermined intervals and opening same during said first predetermined intervals.

3. A heart assist device for pumping blood directly from the left ventricle into the aorta past the aortic valve comprising catheter means including an elongated member with an axial bore therein and having a distal end for insertion into the left ventricle, said distal end having a tip portion, said tip portion having therein an opening in fluid communication with said bore, said distal end also being provided with a second set of openings axially spaced from said tip opening, said second set of openings also communicating with said bore, first check valve means interiorly located against said tip opening and closing same upon a pressure being established in said catheter bore and opening same upon suction being established therein, and second check valve means exteriorly located about said second set of openings and closing said second set of openings upon suction being established in said catheter bore and opening same upon pressure being established therein.

4. A method for augmenting the action of an ailing heart having a left ventricle and associated aorta comprising inserting a catheter tip having spaced apart inlet and outlet check valves thereon into the aorta, through the aortic valve and into the left ventricle, said inlet check valve being located adjacent the tip end of the catheter so that blood may be sucked into the catheter from the left ventricle, said outlet check valve being proximally spaced from the tip end of the catheter so as to be located outside the aortic valve permitting blood within the catheter to be pumped directly into the aorta and sequentially sucking blood from said left ventricle by way of said inlet valve of the catheter during systolic pulsation and on reverse cycle, forcing all of said sucked blood back through the catheter and into said aorta via said outlet check valve.

5. Heart assist device comprising catheter means including an elongated portion with axial bore therein and having a distal end with opening therein letting into said bore and a multiplicity of further openings axially spaced back from said first-mentioned opening and also letting into said bore;

first valve means exteriorly located about said multiplicity of further openings and closing said further openings upon suction being established in said catheter and opening said further openings upon pressure being established therein; and

second valve means interiorly located against said first-mentioned opening and closing the same upon a pressure being established in said catheter and opening the same upon suction being established therein.

6. Device according to claim 5, wherein said first valve means is in the form of a flexible boot positioned externally on said catheter bore and secured thereto;

and said second valve means is in the form of a further flexible boot positioned interiorly of said catheter bore and secured thereto.

7. Device according to claim 5, wherein said distal end opening is in the form of a multiplicity of uniformly-spaced individual openings, and said multiplicity of further openings is in the form of a ring of uniformly-spaced individual openings.

8. Device according to claim 5, wherein the elongated portion of said catheter is fashioned of plastic and wherein an opaque marker is positioned within the wall thereof at a point between said first opening and said multiplicity of further openings.

9. Device according to claim 5, wherein channel means are provided in said catheter communicating with said opening in the distal end thereof to permit measurement of left intraventricular pressure and further channel means are provided in said catheter communicating with said further openings to permit measurement of aortic root pressure.