Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus and method for reducing peak systolic blood pressure and the rate of change of velocity of the blood flow in a living being by passively absorbing a portion of the blood pressure during systole. The apparatus comprises an expandable/contractible chamber, e.g., a balloon, which is internally pressurized by a gas, e.g., carbon dioxide. The chamber has a surface portion which is moveable between first and second positions and vice versa when the chamber is contracted and expanded, respectively. The chamber is sufficiently small to be located at a desired situs, such as the aorta, so that the surface portion is subjected to blood pressure, whereupon it moves to the second position during systole to reduce the magnitude thereof while also reducing the rate of change of the velocity of the blood flow. The chamber expands so that the surface portion automatically returns to the first position to release an absorbed portion of the blood pressure during diastole, all the while maintaining average blood flow and pressure. A releasable anchoring mechanism is provided to hold the chamber in place within the patient's body.

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First Claim