Importance

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Abstract

An improved catheter and method for infusing blood to the heart, clamping the aorta and delivering a cardioplegia solution. A single catheter (10, 100) is used having a unique balloon (102, 162, 172) for ccluding the aorta 12 In a first embodiment, a single catheter (10) is transthoracically inserted upwardly in the aorta to infuse oxygenated blood into the ascending aorta via an infusion opening (46) terminating at the distal end (32), with cardioplegia solution being delivered via openings (42) defined closely adjacent the balloon (40) on the proximal side of the balloon. In a second and third embodiment, a single catheter (100) is transthoracically and femorally inserted, respectively, inserted into the aorta to infuse blood via openings (102) into the ascending aorta proximate the Brachiocephalie Artery, and deliver cardioplegia solution via the distal opening (104) downward toward the aortic base. A fourth lumen (90,140) is provided in both catheters for sensing aortic root pressure in combination with a pressure meter (92) to first ascertain if the balloon is sufficiently inflated and properly occluding the aorta, and second to ascertain proper function of the aortic valve during cardioplegia delivery. The balloon (202, 231) is preferably filled with a partitioned resilient material (204) to permit varying diameters of the balloon and occlude body passageways having varying diameters and curvatures, and may be elongated (262) to improve occlusion.

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First Claim