Aortic balloon catheter assembly for indirect infusion of the coronary arteries

• US 5,167,628 A
• Filed: 05/02/1991
• Issued: 12/01/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Paul W. Boyles
• Original Assignee: Paul W. Boyles
• Inventors: Boyles, Paul W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): Maglione, C.
• Application Number:
  US07/694,754
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: 604/52-53, 604/96-99, 604/101-104, 606/191-192, 606/194, 600/18
• US Class Current: 604/103.07
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22084 stone- or thrombus-dissolving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22098 Decalcification of valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1002 characterised by balloon shape A61M25/1006, A61M25/1009 take precedence

Abstract

A method and apparatus for indirectly infusing the coronary arteries involves insertion of a relatively large tubular member into the left ventricle to maintain blood flow from the left ventricle into the aorta. An isolated chamber within a segment of the aorta encompassing the opening to the coronary arteries is formed by inflating a pair of doughnut-shaped balloons attached at opposite ends of the tubular member. A catheter extends axially through the tubular member and includes a passage for infusing a treatment material into the isolated chamber. The treatment material is subsequently drawn into the coronary arteries which form the only exit from the isolated chamber.

Claims

1. An aortic balloon catheter assembly for indirect infusion of the coronary arteries comprising:

(a) an elongated, flexible catheter having a relatively small diameter adopted for insertion into the aorta;

(b) a canula secured to the distal end of the catheter, said cannula including;

(1) a thin-walled, flexible tubular member having a relatively large diameter surrounding the distal end of the catheter; and

(2) first and second balloons attached at opposite ends of the tubular member;

(c) inflation means communicatively connected with the first and second balloons for inflating the first and second balloons after insertion of the catheter into the aorta so as to isolate a segment of the aorta while allowing blood to continue flowing to the large tubular member;

(d) inflation means extending through said catheter for infusing a treatment material into the isolated area of the aorta between the first and second balloons; and

(e) a lumen extending through the flexible catheter and communicating with an area upstream from the isolated area for infusing treatment material beyond the isolated area.

2. The aortic balloon catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein said catheter includes two inflation lumens for communicating with the first and second balloons.

3. The aortic balloon catheter assembly according to claim 1 wherein the tubular member is expandable and collapsible.

4. An aortic catheter assembly for delivering enzymes, radio-opaque dyes or drugs to the coronary arteries, said catheter assembly comprising:

(a) an elongated, flexible catheter having a relatively small diameter;

(b) a cannula disposed about the distal end of said catheter and adapted to be inserted into the left ventricle of the heart, said cannula including;

(1) a thin-walled tubular member having a relatively large diameter surrounding the distal end of the catheter, wherein said tubular member is adapted to pass through the semilunar valve to enable blood to flow from the left ventricle into the aorta, and wherein the walls of the tubular member are sufficiently pliable to permit collapsing of the tubular member by the semilunar valve during diastole whereby backflow of blood into the left ventricle is prevented; and

(2) first and second balloons for anchoring the catheter and isolating a segment of the aorta adjacent the coronary arteries, wherein said first balloon is secured to the distal end of the tubular member and is adapted to inflate against the interior surfaces of the left ventricle, and wherein the second balloon is secured to the proximal end of the tubular member and is adapted to be inflated against the inner surface of the aorta;

(c) inflation means communicatively connected to said first and second balloons for inflating the first and second balloons to form an isolated chamber surrounding said tubular member and between said balloons, wherein the coronary arteries form the only exit from said isolated chamber; and

(d) a passage extending through said catheter and communicating with the isolated chamber for infusing material into the isolated chamber.

5. A method for infusing clot-dissolving enzymes, radio-opaque dyes, or drugs into the coronary arteries of a patient, said method comprising:

(a) inserting a tubular member through the aorta into the left ventricle of the patient'"'"'s heart such that the tubular member defines a blood flow passage communicating with the left ventricle and the aorta;

(b) forming an isolated chamber within a portion of the aorta in which the openings to the coronary arteries are present such that said openings constitute the only substantial exit from the isolated chamber and wherein such chamber forms an annulus surrounding the tubular member;

(c) infusing the treatment material into said isolated chamber so that the material will be subsequently drawn into the coronary arteries.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein the isolated chamber is formed by inflating a pair of doughnut-shaped balloons disposed at opposite ends of said tubular member such that said balloons form a seal surrounding said tubular member.

7. A method for infusing clot-dissolving enzymes, radio-opaque dyes, or drugs into the coronary arteries of a patient comprising the steps of:

(a) isolating a segment of the aorta such that the openings to the coronary arteries form the only exit from the isolated area;

(b) providing a blood flow passage communicating with the left ventricle of the heart and the aorta at a point downstream from the isolated area, so that blood flow from the heart is not interrupted; and

(c) infusing a treatment material into the isolated area of the aorta so that the material will be subsequently drawn into the coronary arteries.