Importance

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Abstract

An intra-aortic balloon assembly has a balloon whose distal end terminates in a tip and whose proximal end is joined to and communicates with the interior of a catheter tube. A slender stylet extends rearwardly from the tip through the balloon and catheter tube. The balloon is arranged so that its longitudinal axis is significantly displaced from the stylet facilitating tight wrapping of the balloon about the stylet in a single spiral in the same fashion that a flag is wrapped (i.e. 'wound') about its supporting flag pole. The stylet may be affixed to the balloon and/or the catheter tube. The balloon is preferably pre-wrapped and is shipped to the user in the pre-wrapped condition. The balloon is retained in the wrapped condition by a removable holder having releasably joined holder halves encircling the wrapped balloon. The catheter tube is coupled to a sheath splitter and a luer connector having a slidably mounted control member for extending the balloon to prevent the wrapped balloon from lateral folding during inspection. The sheath splitter splits the insertion sheath after proper placement of the balloon by pulling the insertion sheath against the cutting edges of the sheath splitter.

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First Claim