Percutaneous intra-aortic balloon apparatus

Lombardi, Jr. et al.

[45] Dec. 7,1982

[54] PERCUTANEOUS INTRA-AORTIC BALLOON APPARATUS

[75] Inventors: Edward J. Lombardi, Jr., Maiden;

Harold L. Neuman, Reading; Alfred
E. Magro, Woburn; Michael L.
Rishton, Reading, all of Mass.

[73] Assignee: Kontron Cardiovascular Inc., Everett, Mass.

[21] Appl. No.: 185,762

[22] Filed: Sep. 10,1980

[51] Int. C1.3 A61B 19/00; A61M 25/00

[52] U.S. CI 128/1 D; 128/344;

604/99

[58] Field of Search 128/1 D, 344, 348, 349 B,

128/DIG. 9

[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

3,939,820 2/1976 Grayzel 128/1 D

4,105,022 8/1978 Antoshkiw et al 128/349 B

4,243,040 1/1981 Beecher 128/328

4,254,773 3/1981 Waldbillig 128/348

4,261,339 4/1981 Hanson et al 128/1 D

4,276,874 7/1981 Wolvek et al 128/1 D

4,287,892 9/1981 Schiff 128/349 B

4,292,974 10/1981 Fogarty et al 128/344

Primary Examiner—Dalton L. Truluck

Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Jon S. Saxe; Bernard S. Leon; George W. Johnston

[57] ABSTRACT

Intra-aortic balloon apparatus is disclosed including a single chamber balloon sealably attached to the end of a catheter for non-surgical insertion into the aorta through the skin as by the standard Seldinger technique. In the preferred embodiment, the extreme end of the balloon is fixedly attached to one end of a separate substantially circumferentially rigid but longitudinally flexible tube open at both ends and disposed within and extending the length of the catheter. The opposite end of the tube remote from the balloon is fixedly attached to means for effecting rotation of the tube within the catheter and thereby result in controlled sequential wrapping and unwrapping of the balloon about the tube. In use, the balloon is pumped in conventional manner via the catheter and access through the tube is provided to the interior of the aorta at the extreme end of the balloon. When the end portion of the tube within the balloon is formed of a relatively flacid or flexible material, it is advantageous to use a stylet or wire member for insertion in and along the length of the tube to prevent bending of the flexible portion when the balloon is wrapped around the tube. The tube also permits use of a guide wire to facilitate passing the balloon through the aorta to its desired location.

32 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures