Importance

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Abstract

This invention is a single, multichannel catheter useful for extracorporeal circulation of blood to a patient undergoing cardiovascular treatments or surgery. The catheter has three independent channels and an expandable balloon at one end of the catheter. The first channel is the largest and is of a size that allows for delivery of blood to a patient in an amount sufficient to maintain the patient's metabolism and perfusion throughout the treatment or surgery. A second channel, smaller than the first, is integrated into the wall of the first channel, and is suitable for delivering a biologically active fluid (e.g., for cardioplegia) to the heart and/or venting the left heart. A third channel, also smaller than the first, is integrated into the wall of the first channel, and suitable for delivering a fluid to the balloon for its expansion when positioned in the ascending aorta to occlude the flow of blood to the heart. Preferably, the first channel accounts for at least about 70% of the total channel volume. The catheter provides an improved means of performing cardiovascular surgery on a patient using a cardiopulmonary machine for extacorporeal circulation of blood. The catheter is particularly useful for cardiac surgery. The multichannel catheter is best prepared using an extrusion molding technique.

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First Claim