Method and apparatus for assisting human heart function

• US 4,546,759 A
• Filed: 07/29/1983
• Issued: 10/15/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mladen Solar
• Original Assignee: Mladen Solar
• Inventors: Solar, Mladen
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): Costantino, Mario
• Application Number:
  US06/518,387
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 128/1 D, 128/325, 128/344, 128/207.15, 604/96-103, 604/4-10
• US Class Current: 600/18
• 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 60/135 inside a blood vessel, e.g. using grafting
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/274 the inlet and outlet being the same, e.g. para-aortic counter-pulsation blood pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/295 Balloon pumps for circulatory assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/497 for balloon pumps for circulatory assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/508 Electronic control means, e.g. for feedback regulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/833 Occluders for preventing backflow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/843 Balloon aspects, e.g. shapes or materials

Abstract

A method and apparatus for assisting right ventricle function of the human heart is described. A catheter having three longitudinally spaced balloon elements is inserted into the blood vessels adjacent the heart such that the first and third balloon elements are disposed in the superior vena cava and the inferior vena cava, respectively, and the intermediate balloon element in the right atrial chamber. The superior vena cava and the inferior vena cava are simultaneously occluded by inflation of the first and third balloon elements and, after occlusion, the atrial chamber is pressurized, by inflation of the intermediate balloon element, to urge blood flow through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle. The first and third balloon elements are then deflated to allow blood flow to resume through the respective vessels and, thereafter, the intermediate balloon element is deflated to allow the atrial chamber to fill with blood. The cycle is repeated periodically at the heart rate. Control of inflation and deflation of the balloon elements is effected by separate gas supply and exhaust means coupled through a dual lumen catheter tube to the balloon elements and actuated in timed sequence.

Claims

1. A method of assisting right ventricle function of the human heart comprising the steps of

simultaneously occluding both the superior and inferior vena cava blood vessels,

while said vessels are occluded, pressurizing the atrial chamber communicating with the right ventricle to urge blood flow through the tricuspid valve,

thereafter opening said vessels to permit blood flow therethrough, and

after blood flow through said vessels has resumed, depressurizing the atrial chamber to enable blood to enter said chamber.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the series of steps is cyclically repeated at the periodicity of the heart.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein during each cycle, pressurization of the atrial chamber occurs during right ventricle diastole.

4. A method of assisting the function of the right ventricle of the human heart comprising the steps of

inserting a balloon catheter having three balloon elements such that a separate balloon element is disposed in each of the superior vena cava, the atrial chamber and the inferior vena cava, respectively,

inflating the balloon elements in the superior vena cava and the inferior vena cava simultaneously to occlude both said blood vessels,

while said vessels are occluded, inflating the balloon element in the atrial chamber to pressurize said chamber to urge blood flow through the tricuspid valve,

thereafter deflating the balloon elements in the superior vena cava and the inferior vena cava to permit blood flow therethrough, and

after resumption of blood flow through said vessels, deflating the balloon element in the atrial chamber to allow blood to enter said chamber.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the series of steps is cyclically repeated at the periodicity of the heart.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein during each cycle, inflation of the balloon element in the atrial chamber occurs during right ventricle diastole.

7. An intra-vascular pressurizing apparatus comprising

a dual lumen catheter tube,

three balloon elements mounted on said catheter tube, in longitudinally spaced apart relation, each of said ballon elements capable of being inflated and deflated,

the intermediate balloon element being asymmetrical with respect to said catheter tube when inflated,

means coupling one of the lumens of said catheter tube with the first and third of said balloon elements for supplying an inflating medium to and withdrawing said medium from both said first and third balloon elements simulaneously,

means coupling the other of said lumens to said intermediate balloon element for supplying an inflating medium to and withdrawing said medium from said intermediate balloon element,

individual means for supplying and withdrawing an inflating medium coupled to each of said lumens, respectively, and

means for controlling the operation of said supplying and withdrawing means in a predetermined sequence.

8. Catheter apparatus comprising:

a dual lumen catheter tube,

three balloon means mounted on said catheter tube, each of said balloon means capable of being inflated and deflated, said balloon means being longitudinally spaced apart from each other on said catheter tube such that when said catheter tube is inserted into position adjacent the human heart, the first of said balloon means is disposed in the inferior vena cava, the third of said balloon means is disposed in the superior vena cava, and the intermediate balloon means is disposed in the right atrial chamber,

means coupling one of the lumens of said catheter tube with said first and third balloon means for supplying an inflating medium to and withdrawing said medium from both said first and third balloon means to occlude the inferior vena cava and the superior vena cava respectively,

means coupling the other of said lumens to said intermediate balloon means for supplying an inflating medium to and withdrawing said medium from said intermediate balloon means to aid in pressurinzing the right atrial chamber,

individual means for supplying and withdrawing an inflating medium coupled to each of said lumens, respectively, and

means for controlling the operation of said supplying and withdrawing means in a predetermined sequence.

9. The catheter apparatus of claim 8, wherein said balloon means are sized such that, when said catheter is inserted and said balloon means are inflated, said first ballon means occludes the inferior vena cava, said third balloon means occludes the superior vena cave and said intermediate balloon means protrudes into the right artial chamber and pressurizes the chamber to urge blood flow through the tricuspid valve.

10. The catheter apparatus of claim 9, wherein said intermediate balloon means is asymmetrical with respect to said catheter tube when inflated.