Cardioplegia administration system and method

Abstract

A cardioplegia administration system includes a tubing set, a positive displacement pump and a mixing system. The tubing set has a cardioplegia supply tube; a blood supply tube; and a cardioplegia administration tube connected to the cardioplegia and blood supply tubes. The positive displacement pump engages the cardioplegia administration tube to pump fluid therethrough. The mixing system includes pinch valves for alternately-continually pinching the cardioplegia and blood supply tubes to close and open the cardioplegia and blood supply tubes such that only one of the cardioplegia and blood supply tubes is open at a time, and a controller that controls the intervals during which the pinch valves are open to control the ratio of the cardioplegia medication and blood or blood substitute administered through the cardioplegia administration tube. The method of this invention includes the step, among others, of operating the pinch valves to close and open the cardioplegia and blood supply tubes so that only one of the cardioplegia and blood supply tubes is open at a time while controlling the intervals during which the pinch valves are open to control the ratio of the cardioplegia medication and blood or blood substitute administered through the cardioplegia administration tube.