Intra-aortic balloon pump

Abstract

An intra-aortic balloon pump of this invention comprises a catheter (4) which introduces a pumping media, a wrapped membrane (5) which is mounted on one end of the catheter (4), a protection sleeve (1) which accommodates the membrane (5), a sealing cap (3) which is mounted on the catheter (4) and is movable along the catheter (4), and, an intermediate member (2) which is located between the membrane (5) and the sealing cap (3) and is movable along the catheter (4) together with the membrane (5) so as to prevent the membrane (5) from unwrapping. After the intermediate member (2) is moved to the membrane (5) so that the intermediate member (2) overlaps the membrane (5), the intermediate member (2) prevents the membrane (5) from unwrapping. Therefore, the sleeve (1) can be removed from the membrane (5) without unwrapping the membrane (5). After the membrane (5) is inserted in a femoral artery through a sheath (9), the membrane (5) ascends in the descending abdominal aorta toward the failing heart. During the percutaneous balloon insertion, the intermediate member (2) prevents the membrane (5) from unwrapping. Therefore, the membrane (5) does not become wrinkled at an outside end (13) of the sheath (9). Thus, the balloon pump is inserted in the sheath (9) easily and smoothly.