Low velocity aortic cannula
First Claim
1. An improved aortic cannula having a sidewall with a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen therebetween for conducting blood, the distal end being adapted for insertion into the aorta during heart surgery to provide blood to the aorta, the improvement comprising:
- a cap for blocking axial flow from the distal end of the cannula;
a diffuser in the distal end of the lumen for diverting at least part of the flow through the cannula, the diffuser extending generally upstream in the lumen toward the proximal end of the cannula, and tapering in the upstream direction; and
at least two outlet openings in the sidewall of the cannula adjacent the diffuser, the outlet openings comprising slots in the sidewall of the cannula, adjacent the distal end.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A low velocity aortic cannula having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen therebetween for conducting blood, the distal end being adapted for insertion into the aorta during heart surgery to provide blood to the aorta. There is a diffuser at least partially blocking the distal end of the cannula, and a plurality of outlet openings in the side of the distal end of the cannula. In one embodiment the distal end of the cannula is closed with a cap, and the diffuser is a rounded cone extending generally upstream in the lumen. The outlet openings are located in the sidewall of the cannula. In a second embodiment of the invention, the diffuser has a helical configuration, and partially blocks the distal opening of the cannula. Additional openings are provided in the sidewall to permit flow. According to the method of this invention, an opening is formed in the aorta, the distal end of one of the embodiments of the cannula is inserted into the opening, and blood flow through the cannula is established.
71 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. An improved aortic cannula having a sidewall with a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen therebetween for conducting blood, the distal end being adapted for insertion into the aorta during heart surgery to provide blood to the aorta, the improvement comprising:
-
a cap for blocking axial flow from the distal end of the cannula; a diffuser in the distal end of the lumen for diverting at least part of the flow through the cannula, the diffuser extending generally upstream in the lumen toward the proximal end of the cannula, and tapering in the upstream direction; and at least two outlet openings in the sidewall of the cannula adjacent the diffuser, the outlet openings comprising slots in the sidewall of the cannula, adjacent the distal end. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
- 12. An aortic cannula for insertion into the aorta during heart surgery to provide blood to the aorta, the cannula comprising a sidewall having a proximal end and a distal end and a lumen therethrough, a cap at the distal end closing the lumen, a diffuser projecting proximally from the cap and tapering in the proximal direction, and outlet openings in the sidewall of the cannula adjacent the diffuser, allowing flow diverted by the diffuser to exit from the sides of the cannula.
Specification