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Abstract

An improved venous cannula and obturator for interconnecting the superior and the inferior vena cava to the venous return line of a heart-lung machine. The cannula includes a pair of resilient, divergent hollow branches. The branches are of unequal length. The longer branch is to be received within the inferior vena cava and the shorter branch is to be received in the superior vena cava. The open branch ends are thus longitudinally staggered when the branches are clamped together by the obturator to facilitate insertion of the branch ends through a single incision within the atrium and ultimate disposition of the branches in the superior and inferior vena cavae. The obturator includes an elongated rod with a hub having a pair of axial legs to be received within the branches of the cannula. The obturator is provided to be slidably received with minimal frictional resistance within the interior lumen of the cannula and the cannula branches. The obturator includes features to minimize frictional resistance to axial movement of the obturator in the cannula, and that facilitate release of the cannula branches to separate within the atrium.

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First Claim