To date, no device is available to maintain the circulation when the heart is weak or stopped as a result of a heart attack.

          Devices presently available to maintain the circulation of patients with severe disease or dysfunction of the heart (in particular, the left ventricle) require opening the chest and operating on the heart and major blood vessels.  The presently available intra-aortic balloon pump does not require surgery for this implementation, but it is not helpful in situations where the heart is severely dysfunctional.  In such cases the blood pressure is so low that the walls of the aorta collapse around the pumping balloon rendering it useless.  The new invention will sustain the circulation in such severe cases without requiring the extensive surgery needed to implant other left ventricular assist devices.

          The invention has a hydraulic coil that will support the wall of the aorta and prevent it from collapsing around the catheter when the pumping balloon is deflated.  In addition, the device has two blocking balloons which prevent reflux of blood from other arteries when the pumping balloon is deflated.  Thus, deflation of the pumping balloon and expansion of the aorta support coil will suck blood directly from the poorly functioning left ventricle  Then the pumping balloon will be inflated to provide a surge of blood to the body.  At this time, the blocking balloons will be deflated so that blood can flow freely to the organs of the body.

          This new device will sustain the patient until the heart recovers its normal function, or until a heart transplant operation can be arranged.  This device will be much less expensive than present left ventricular assist devices that require surgical implantation and surgical removal.  Furthermore, implementation of this new device will not require surgical skills beyond that of the well trained emergency room physician or paramedic.

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