Cavo-atrial cannula and method of use

Abstract

An improved method for performing cardiac surgery whereby one uses cavo-atrial cannula to remove blood from the body while performing cardiac surgery. The cavo-atrial cannula has at least two sets of openings, a removable obturator, a curved tip, a closed terminus, an open terminus, and a bend. The cavo-atrial cannula has the first openings located adjacent to the curved tip and the second openings on the side opposite the bend. The cavo-atrial cannula contains various markings to indicate the correct positioning of the cavo-atrial cannula. The cavo-atrial cannula is inserted into the superior vena cava or inferior vena cava. The tip of the cavo-atrial cannula can lie in either the right atrium or the vena cava opposite from the insertion point, depending on the type of surgery being performed.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An improved method of draining blood from a body during cardiac surgery, said improvement comprising: 
 making an incision in a vena cava;    inserting a cavo-atrial cannula into said incision in said vena cava, wherein said cavo-atrial cannula has an open terminus, a closed terminus, a bend, a first openings wherein said first openings are located adjacent to said closed terminus, a second openings wherein said second openings are located on the side of said cannula opposite said bend, and a removable obturator capable of occluding said second openings;    positioning said cavo-atrial cannula such that said closed terminus is located in the right atrium;    securing said cavo-atrial cannula to said vena cava;    withdrawing said removable obturator from said cavo-atrial cannula through said open terminus; and    attaching said cavo-atrial cannula to tubing wherein said blood travels through said tubing to a device for oxygenation and return to the body.    
     
     
         2 . The method of    claim 1    wherein said vena cava is the superior vena cava.  
     
     
         3 . The method of    claim 1    wherein said vena cava is the inferior vena cava.  
     
     
         4 . An improved method of draining blood from a body during cardiac surgery, said improvement comprising: 
 making an incision in the vena cava;    inserting a cavo-atrial cannula into said incision in said vena cava, wherein said cavo-atrial cannula has an open terminus, a closed terminus, a bend, a first openings wherein said first openings are located adjacent to said closed terminus, a second openings wherein said second openings are located on the side of said cannula opposite said bend, a third openings wherein said third openings are located between said first openings and said second openings, and a removable obturator capable of occluding said second openings;    positioning said cavo-atrial cannula such that said closed terminus is located in the right atrium;    securing said cavo-atrial cannula to said vena cava;    withdrawing said removable obturator from said cavo-atrial cannula through said open terminus; and    attaching said cavo-atrial cannula to tubing wherein blood travels through said tubing to a device for oxygenation and return to the body.    
     
     
         5 . The method of    claim 4    wherein said vena cava is the superior vena cava.  
     
     
         6 . The method of    claim 4    wherein said vena cava is the inferior vena cava.  
     
     
         7 . An improved method of draining blood from a body during cardiac surgery, said improvement comprising: 
 making an incision in the superior vena cava;    inserting a cavo-atrial cannula into said incision in said vena cava, wherein said cavo-atrial cannula has an open terminus, a closed terminus, a bend, a first openings wherein said first openings are located adjacent to said closed terminus, a second openings wherein said second openings are located on the side of said cannula opposite said bend, and a removable obturator capable of occluding said second openings;    positioning said cavo-atrial cannula such that said closed terminus is located in the inferior vena cava;    securing said cavo-atrial cannula to said superior vena cava;    withdrawing said removable obturator from said cavo-atrial cannula through said open terminus;    attaching said cavo-atrial cannula to tubing wherein said blood travels through said tubing to a device for oxygenation and return to the body; and    applying at least one tourniquet around said superior vena cava and said inferior vena cava.    
     
     
         8 . An improved method of draining blood from a body during cardiac surgery, said improvement comprising: 
 making an incision in the inferior vena cava;    inserting a cavo-atrial cannula into said incision in said vena cava, wherein said cavo-atrial cannula has an open terminus, a closed terminus, a bend, a first openings wherein said first openings are located adjacent to said closed terminus, a second openings wherein said second openings are located on the side of said cannula opposite said bend, and a removable obturator capable of occluding said second openings;    positioning said cavo-atrial cannula such that said closed terminus is located in the superior vena cava;    securing said cavo-atrial cannula to said superior vena cava;    withdrawing said removable obturator from said cavo-atrial cannula through said open terminus;    attaching said cavo-atrial cannula to tubing wherein said blood travels through said tubing to a device for oxygenation and return to the body; and    applying at least one tourniquet around said superior vena cava and said inferior vena cava.