Aortic balloon catheter assembly for indirect infusion of the coronary arteries

Claim 2

An aortic balloon catheter assembly for indirect infusion of the coronary arteries comprising: (a) an elongated, flexible catheter having a relatively small diameter adopted for insertion into the aorta; (b) a canula secured to the distal end of the catheter, said cannula including: (1) a thin-walled, flexible tubular member having a relatively large diameter surrounding the distal end of the catheter; and (2) first and second balloons attached at opposite ends of the tubular member; (c) inflation means communicatively connected with the first and second balloons for inflating the first and second balloons after insertion of the catheter into the aorta so as to isolate a segment of the aorta while allowing blood to continue flowing to the large tubular member; (d) inflation means extending through said catheter for infusing a treatment material into the isolated area of the aorta between the first and second balloons; and (e) a lumen extending through the flexible catheter and communicating with an area upstream from the isolated area for infusing treatment material beyond the isolated area.

Claim 3

The aortic balloon catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein said catheter includes two inflation lumens for communicating with the first and second balloons.

Claim 4

The aortic balloon catheter assembly according to claim 1 wherein the tubular member is expandable and collapsible.

Claim 5

An aortic catheter assembly for delivering enzymes, radio-opaque dyes or drugs to the coronary arteries, said catheter assembly comprising: (a) an elongated, flexible catheter having a relatively small diameter; (b) a cannula disposed about the distal end of said catheter and adapted to be inserted into the left ventricle of the heart, said cannula including: (1) a thin-walled tubular member having a relatively large diameter surrounding the distal end of the catheter, wherein said tubular member is adapted to pass through the semilunar valve to enable blood to flow from the left ventricle into the aorta, and wherein the walls of the tubular member are sufficiently pliable to permit collapsing of the tubular member by the semilunar valve during diastole whereby backflow of blood into the left ventricle is prevented; and (2) first and second balloons for anchoring the catheter and isolating a segment of the aorta adjacent the coronary arteries, wherein said first balloon is secured to the distal end of the tubular member and is adapted to inflate against the interior surfaces of the left ventricle, and wherein the second balloon is secured to the proximal end of the tubular member and is adapted to be inflated against the inner surface of the aorta; (c) inflation means communicatively connected to said first and second balloons for inflating the first and second balloons to form an isolated chamber surrounding said tubular member and between said balloons, wherein the coronary arteries form the only exit from said isolated chamber; and (d) a passage extending through said catheter and communicating with the isolated chamber for infusing material into the isolated chamber.

Claim 6

An aortic catheter assembly for delivering enzymes, radio-opaque dyes or drugs to the coronary arteries, said catheter assembly comprising: (a) an elongated, flexible catheter having a relatively small diameter; (b) a cannula disposed about the distal end of said catheter and adapted to be inserted into the left ventricle of the heart, said cannula including: (1) a thin-walled tubular member having a relatively large diameter surrounding the distal end of the catheter, wherein said tubular member is adapted to pass through the semilunar valve to enable blood to flow from the left ventricle into the aorta, and wherein the walls of the tubular member are sufficiently pliable to permit collapsing of the tubular member by the semilunar valve during diastole whereby backflow of blood into the left ventricle is prevented; and (2) first and second balloons for anchoring the catheter and isolating a segment of the aorta adjacent the coronary arteries, wherein said first balloon is secured to the distal end of the tubular member and is adapted to inflate against the interior surfaces of the left ventricle, and wherein the second balloon is secured to the proximal end of the tubular member and is adapted to be inflated against the inner surface of the aorta; (c) inflation means communicatively connected to said first and second balloons for inflating the first and second balloons to form an isolated chamber surrounding said tubular member and between said balloons, wherein the coronary arteries form the only exit from said isolated chamber; and (d) a passage extending through said catheter and communicating with the isolated chamber for infusing material into the isolated chamber.

Claim 9

The method according to claim 5 wherein the isolated chamber is formed by inflating a pair of doughnut-shaped balloons disposed at opposite ends of said tubular member such that said balloons form a seal surrounding said tubular member.