The intra-aortic balloon assist device (IABP) is the most common utilized left ventricular assist device.  It is used when cardiac output is insufficient to maintain adequate blood pressure for supplying the patient’s organs with arterial blood.  Ventricular ejection of blood must be sufficient to keep the mean aortic blood pressure at a specific level and presently used intra-aortic balloon assist devices cannot sustain the circulation of blood if the heart is severely diseased or injured. 

          Dr. Downey and Dr. Bian have developed an enhanced intra-aortic balloon assist device to overcome these limitations.  It will enhance ventricular ejection and provide circulatory support at pressures below those required by currently available IABP.  Further, Dr. Downey anticipates that the new device will be specified for most conditions that require circulatory support, so that its reserve pumping capacity will be available, even if the patient’s aortic blood pressure is initially high enough to use an IABP.  Consequently, the new device developed by Drs. Downey and Bian will perform more efficiently for the patient without the limitations of the current IABP devices.

©Cardiovascular Research Institute, February 2000
An Institute fo Discovery at the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth