Chase Medical, Inc.

Wendel Lloyd

Albert Michael Davis

Mitta Suresh

Richard C Bryant

David Hernon

Christina Draper

An integral aortic arch infusion clamp catheter (10, 90) suited to occlude the ascending aorta, infuse blood, and deliver cardioplegia solution on opposing sides of an inflated balloon (56). The catheter has a unique balloon (102) filled with a modular resilient material to permit further expansion and adaptation to irregular surfaces and diameters of body passageways. The inflatable balloon (56) is provided closely proximate the distal end (54) of catheter (10, 90). In a first embodiment, the catheter (10) has three lumens (60,70 and 80), one lumen (60) for inflating balloon (56), a second larger lumen (70) which is large enough to infuse blood out distal opening (72), and a third lumen (80) for delivering cardioplegia solution to proximal openings (82) adjacent balloon (56). In a catheter (90) according to a second embodiment, the third lumen (80) is significantly larger than the first lumen (60) and second lumen (70) such that the lumen can be oriented downwardly in the ascending aorta. The distal opening (72) delivers cardioplegia and the proximal openings (82) infuse oxygenated blood. Inflated balloon (56) isolates the openings (72, 82) from one another during use. The catheter only requires a single cannulation site (34) thus significantly reducing trauma to the aorta during open heart surgery.

Integral aortic arch infusion clamp catheter

An improved method of using a single catheter to infuse blood to the heart, clamping the aorta and delivering a cardioplegia solution. Patient trauma is significantly reduced using a single cannulation. A single catheter (10, 90, 92) is used having a unique balloon (56, 93, 102) for occluding the aorta. In a first embodiment, a single catheter (10) is positioned upwardly in the aorta to infuse oxygenated blood into the ascending aorta via an infusion lumen (72) terminating at the distal end (54), with cardioplegia solution being delivered via openings (82) defined closely adjacent the balloon (56) on the proximal side of the balloon. The inflated balloon (56) isolates the two delivery openings (72,82) from one another to facilitate use of an extracorporeal circuit. In a second embodiment, a single catheter (90) can be positioned downwardly in the aorta to infuse blood via openings (82) into the ascending aorta proximate the subclavian artery, and deliver cardioplegia solution via the distal opening (72) downward toward the aortic base. The balloon (102) is preferably filled with a partitioned resilient material (104) to permit varying diameters of the balloon and occlude body passageways having varying diameters and curvatures.

Method of using integral aortic arch infusion clamp

A venous return catheter (30, 56, 60, 70) and method of use therefor having a semi-rigid support member (32) extending within a lumen (42) to prevent kinking thereof during insertion and use. The tubular walls of the catheter body (40,72) are sufficiently thin and flexible to provide maneuverability and allow clamping of the lumen (42) during use, but which outer diameter is sufficiently small and thus requires a smaller and less traumatic incision in the right atrium. The catheter is provided with a plurality of openings (34) along a length proximate the distal end of the catheter, and may have a second set of openings (74) in a two-stage catheter (70). The semi-rigid support member (32) is fixedly or selectively secured at a central location of the distal tip 44 free of the openings (34), but is free at the proximal end of the catheter to provide maneuverability. The semi-rigid support member may have a plurality of radially extending support members (57) to provide additional support. The catheter may also have a linear support member (62) integrally defined in the body wall (40) to prevent kinking but allow clamping.

Growing community of inventors

Dallas, TX, United States of America

Wendel Lloyd