Catheter system and method for venting the left ventricle

• US 5,765,568 A
• Filed: 12/01/1995
• Issued: 06/16/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences LLC (Edwards Lifesciences Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Heartport, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Larkins, Walter W. III, Sweezer, William P. Jr., Coleman, Ronald
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ruhl, Dennis
• Application Number:
  US08/566,405
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 604/4-6, 604/49, 604/95, 604/96, 604/101, 604/102, 604/280, 606/16-18, 128/898
• US Class Current: 128/898
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3659 Cannulae pertaining to extracorporeal circulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0031 characterized by lumina for withdrawing or delivering, i.e. used for extracorporeal circuit treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0036 with more than four lumina
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0037 characterized by lumina being arranged side-by-side
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0039 characterized by lumina being arranged coaxially
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/004 characterized by lumina being arranged circumferentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1015 having two or more independently movable balloons where the distance between the balloons can be adjusted, e.g. two balloon catheters concentric to each other forming an adjustable multiple balloon catheter system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1052 for temporarily occluding a vessel for isolating a sector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/125 Heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0068 Static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0082 Catheter tip comprising a tool
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1011 Multiple balloon catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/113 in other functional devices, e.g. dialysers or heart-lung machines
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/117 for assisting the heart, e.g. transcutaneous or external ventricular assist devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/279 Peristaltic pumps, e.g. roller 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 60/833 Occluders for preventing backflow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/857 Implantable blood tubes

Abstract

An extracorporeal support system including an extracorporeal support apparatus and an arterial circulation support catheter. The arterial circulation support catheter includes a blood lumen with a proximal end coupled to extracorporeal support apparatus and a distal end inserted into the blood circulation. A vent lumen has a distal end that crosses the aortic valve into the left ventricle and provides direct venting of the left ventricle through the vent lumen. An arterial circulation support catheter occluding member is positioned either in an interior or at an exterior of the arterial circulation support catheter. A venous circulation support catheter is provided and includes a blood lumen with a proximal end coupled to the extracorporeal support apparatus and a distal end inserted into the blood circulation. A venous circulation support catheter occluding member is included and positioned in an interior or at an exterior of the venous circulation support catheter. The venous circulation support catheter occluding member occludes the superior vena cava and the inferior vena cava.

Claims

1. A method of delivering cardioplegic fluid to a patient'"'"'s coronary arteries comprising the steps of:

providing a catheter having a lumen, a distal end, and an occluding member, the occluding member being movable between a collapsed condition and an expanded condition, the lumen having an outlet positioned distal to the occluding member;

inserting the distal end of the catheter through an opening in a patient'"'"'s artery;

passing the distal end of the catheter through the patient'"'"'s subclavian artery and into the ascending aorta so that the occluding member is positioned in the ascending aorta;

infusing a cardioplegic fluid through the lumen of the catheter and into the patient'"'"'s aortic root thereby perfusing the patient'"'"'s coronary arteries to arrest the patient'"'"'s heart;

passing a blood flow lumen through the opening in the artery;

coupling the blood flow lumen to a source of oxygenated blood;

infusing oxygenated blood through the blood flow lumen from the source of oxygenated blood; and

moving the occluding member to the expanded condition to occlude the patient'"'"'s ascending aorta.

2. The method of delivering cardioplegic fluid of claim 1, wherein:

the passing steps are carried out with the blood flow lumen and catheter being slidable relative to one another, the blood flow lumen having an outlet which is slidably movable relative to the outlet of the catheter lumen.