Aortically located blood pumping catheter and method of use
First Claim
1. Apparatus for disposition within the aorta of a living being to effect the pumping of blood through at least a portion of the being'"'"'s vascular system, said apparatus comprising an elongated catheter having a distal end portion, said catheter being of sufficiently small diameter to enable it to be freely located within the aorta so that its distal end portion is at a predetermined position spaced away from and not in contact with the aortic valve, said apparatus comprising pump means located at said distal end portion, barrier means located at said distal end portion, and drive means coupled to said pump means for operating said pump means, whereupon blood is made to flow through said aorta, said distal end portion of said apparatus comprising an inlet in fluid communication with said aorta distally of said pump means and an outlet in fluid communication with said aorta proximally of said pump means, said barrier means comprising conformable wall means for closely engaging the inner periphery of said aorta at said predetermined position to ensure that substantially all of the blood flowing through the aorta flows into said inlet to said pump means and out said outlet from said pump means and not around the exterior of the distal end portion of said apparatus.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A catheter and a method of use for pumping of blood through a living being'"'"'s vascular system. The catheter has an expandable distal end portion and is introduced into the aorta so that that portion is at a predetermined position spaced from the aortic valve. The catheter comprises an expandable pump and a flexible, skirt-like barrier, both located at the distal end portion. The distal end portion also has an inlet and an outlet. When the catheter is located at the predetermined position its inlet is in fluid communication with the aorta distally of the pump while its outlet is in fluid communication with the aorta proximally of the pump, and the barrier engages the inner periphery of the aorta. Operating the pump causes blood to flow through the aorta, with the barrier ensuring that substantially all of the blood flows into the inlet to the pump means and out the outlet from the pump means and not around the exterior of the distal end portion of the catheter as the pump is operated.
465 Citations
22 Claims
- 1. Apparatus for disposition within the aorta of a living being to effect the pumping of blood through at least a portion of the being'"'"'s vascular system, said apparatus comprising an elongated catheter having a distal end portion, said catheter being of sufficiently small diameter to enable it to be freely located within the aorta so that its distal end portion is at a predetermined position spaced away from and not in contact with the aortic valve, said apparatus comprising pump means located at said distal end portion, barrier means located at said distal end portion, and drive means coupled to said pump means for operating said pump means, whereupon blood is made to flow through said aorta, said distal end portion of said apparatus comprising an inlet in fluid communication with said aorta distally of said pump means and an outlet in fluid communication with said aorta proximally of said pump means, said barrier means comprising conformable wall means for closely engaging the inner periphery of said aorta at said predetermined position to ensure that substantially all of the blood flowing through the aorta flows into said inlet to said pump means and out said outlet from said pump means and not around the exterior of the distal end portion of said apparatus.
- 12. Apparatus for disposition within the aorta of a living being to effect the pumping of blood through at least a portion of the being'"'"'s vascular system, said apparatus comprising an elongated catheter having a distal end portion, said catheter being of sufficiently small diameter to enable it to be freely located within the aorta so that its distal end portion is at a predetermined position spaced away from the aortic valve, said apparatus comprising pump means located at said distal end portion, barrier means located at said distal end portion, and drive means coupled to said pump means for operating said pump means, whereupon blood is made to flow through said aorta, said distal end portion of said apparatus additionally comprising an inlet in fluid communication with said aorta distally of said pump means, an outlet in fluid communication with said aorta proximally of said pump means, and a tubular portion, said tubular portion comprising a first opening defining said inlet, an oppositely disposed second opening defining said outlet, a flexible sleeve and a plurality of elongated fingers disposed about the periphery of said distal end portion and supporting said sleeve, said fingers being arranged to be moved from a compacted position to an expanded position to expand said sleeve from a compacted configuration to an expanded configuration, said barrier means comprising a wall located between said first and second openings for engaging the inner periphery of said aorta at said predetermined position to ensure that substantially all of the blood flowing through the aorta flows into said inlet to said pump means and out said outlet from said pump means and not around the exterior of the distal end portion of said apparatus.
- 14. Apparatus for disposition within the aorta of a living being to effect the pumping of blood through at least a portion of the being'"'"'s vascular system, said apparatus comprising an elongated catheter having a distal end portion, said catheter being of sufficiently small diameter to enable it to be freely located within the aorta so that its distal end portion is at a predetermined position spaced away from the aortic valve, said apparatus comprising pump means located at said distal end portion, barrier means located at said distal end portion, and drive means coupled to said pump means for operating said pump means, whereupon blood is made to flow through said aorta, said distal end portion of said apparatus additionally comprising an inlet in fluid communication with said aorta distally of said pump means, an outlet in fluid communication with said aorta proximally of said pump means, and a tubular portion, said tubular portion comprising a flexible sleeve and a plurality of elongated fingers disposed about the periphery of said distal end portion and supporting said sleeve, said fingers being arranged to be moved from a compacted position to an expanded position to expand said sleeve from a compacted configuration to an expanded configuration, said pump comprising at least one blade, said blade being movable from a compacted configuration to an expanded configuration.
- 16. A method for pumping of blood through at least a portion of a living being'"'"'s vascular system, said method comprising introducing an elongated catheter having a distal end portion into the aorta with said distal end portion at a predetermined position spaced away from and not in contact with the aortic valve, said distal end portion comprising an inlet and an outlet, said catheter additionally comprising pump means located at said distal end portion, barrier means located at said distal end portion comprising conformable wall means, and drive means coupled to said pump means, said method comprising positioning said distal end portion of said catheter at said predetermined position so that said inlet is in fluid communication with said aorta distally of said pump means and said outlet is in fluid communication with said aorta proximally of said pump means, and with said conformable wall means in close engagement with the inner periphery of said aorta at said predetermined position, operating said pump means to pump said blood through said aorta, with said barrier means ensuring that substantially all of the blood flowing through the aorta flows into said inlet to said pump means and out said outlet from said pump means and not around the exterior of the distal end portion of said catheter as said pump means is operated.
Specification