Method of occluding a patient's ascending aorta and delivering cardioplegic fluid

Abstract

An extracorporeal support system including an extracorporeal support apparatus and an arterial circulation support catheter. The arterial circulation support catheter includes a blood lumen with a proximal end coupled to extracorporeal support apparatus and a distal end inserted into the blood circulation. A vent lumen has a distal end that crosses the aortic valve into the left ventricle and provides direct venting of the left ventricle through the vent lumen. An arterial circulation support catheter occluding member is positioned either in an interior or at an exterior of the arterial circulation support catheter. A venous circulation support catheter is provided and includes a blood lumen with a proximal end coupled to the extracorporeal support apparatus and a distal end inserted into the blood circulation. A venous circulation support catheter occluding member is included and positioned in an interior or at an exterior of the venous circulation support catheter. The venous circulation support catheter occluding member occludes the superior vena cava and the inferior vena cava.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An extracorporeal support system coupled to a blood circulation, comprising: 
 an extracorporeal support apparatus;    an arterial circulation support catheter with a proximal end coupled to the extracorporeal support apparatus and a distal end inserted into the blood circulation, the arterial circulation support catheter including a blood lumen and a vent lumen with a distal end that crosses the aortic valve into the left ventricle for direct venting of the left ventricle through the vent lumen;    an arterial circulation support catheter occluding member positioned in an interior or at an exterior of the arterial circulation support catheter;    a venous circulation support catheter with a proximal end coupled to the extracorporeal support apparatus and a distal end inserted into the blood circulation, the venous circulation support catheter including a blood lumen; and    a venous circulation support catheter occluding member to occlude the superior vena cava and the inferior vena cava, the venous circulation support catheter occluding member being positioned in an interior or at an exterior of the venous circulation support catheter.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the extracorporeal support apparatus includes an outlet port for the delivered of re-oxygenated blood to the blood circulation, and an inlet port for receiving blood from the blood circulation.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the arterial circulation support catheter proximal end is coupled to the outlet port, and the venous circulation support catheter proximal end is coupled to the inlet port.  
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an arterial circulatory support occluding member lumen coupled to the arterial circulatory support occluding member and positioned in the arterial circulation support catheter.    
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  and  2 , wherein the arterial circulatory support occluding member is slideably positioned in the blood lumen or the arterial circulation support occluding member lumen.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the arterial circulation support catheter occluding member is a clamp.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a venous circulation support catheter occluding member lumen coupled to the venous circulation support catheter occluding member and positioned in the venous circulation support catheter.    
     
     
         6 . The system of claims  1  and  5 , wherein the venous circulation support catheter occluding member is slideably positioned in the venous circulation support catheter blood lumen or the venous circulation support catheter occluding member lumen.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vent lumen provides infusion capability into the left ventricle.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the arterial circulation support catheter occluding member is a balloon.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the arterial circulation support catheter includes two occluding members.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the arterial circulation support catheter further comprises: 
 an infusion lumen including a distal end that introduces an infusion medium into the aortic root, wherein the infusion lumen is positioned in the interior or at the exterior of the arterial circulation support catheter.    
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the infusion lumen is positioned in the blood lumen.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the infusion lumen is positioned in the arterial circulation support catheter adjacent to the blood lumen.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the infusion lumen introduces an infusion medium into the aortic root and vents mediums from the aortic root simultaneously or at alternative times.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the arterial circulation support catheter further comprises: 
 an international lumen including a distal end that introduces a diagnostic or therapeutic device into the blood circulation, wherein the interventional lumen is positioned in the interior or at the exterior of the arterial circulation support catheter.    
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the interventional lumen is positioned in the blood lumen.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the infusion lumen is positioned in the arterial circulation support catheter adjacent to the blood lumen.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the extracorporeal support apparatus includes a device to re-oxygenate blood.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the extracorporeal support apparatus further includes a temperature control device to cool the heart and assist in stopping the heart from beating, and subsequently heat the heart to assist in initiating the heart to beat.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the flirter comprising: 
 a fibrillation and defibrillation apparatus coupled to the heart.    
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the arterial circulatory support catheter occluding member is positioned in the ascending aorta.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the infusion medium is a cardio-active agent.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the infusion medium is one or more contrast agents.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the infusion medium is an iontropic agent.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the venous circulation support catheter occluding member includes two occluding members.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the two occluding members are balloons.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the occluding members are adjustably positioned relative to each other.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the venous circulation support catheter further composes: 
 an infusion lumen including a distal end that introduces an infusion medium into the venous circulation, wherein the infusion lumen is positioned in the interior or at the exterior of the venous circulation support catheter.    
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the infusion lumen is positioned in the blood lumen.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the infusion lumen is positioned in the venous circulation support catheter adjacent to the blood lumen.  
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the infusion lumen introduces an infusion medium into the blood circulation and vents mediums from the blood circulation simultaneously or at alternatively.  
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the venous circulation support catheter further comprises: 
 an interventional lumen including a distal end that introduces a diagnostic or therapeutic device into the blood circulation, wherein the interventional lumen is positioned in the interior or at the exterior of the venous circulation support catheter.    
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the interventional lumen is positioned in the blood lumen.  
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the interventional lumen is positioned in the venous circulation support catheter adjacent to the blood lumen.  
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the infusion medium is a cardio-active agent.  
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the infusion medium is one or more contrast agents.  
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the infusion medium is an iontropic agent.  
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the interventional lumen introduces a therapeutic device.  
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the interventional lumen permits balloon valvuloplasty.  
     
     
         39 . An extracorporeal support system coupled to a blood circulation, comprising: 
 an extracorporeal support apparatus;    an arterial circulation support catheter including a blood lumen with a proximal end coupled to the extracorporeal support apparatus and a distal end inserted into the blood circulation;    an arterial circulation support catheter occluding member positioned in an interior or at an exterior of the arterial circulation support catheter;    a vent lumen with a distal end positioned in the left ventricle and provide direct venting of the left ventricle, wherein the vent lumen is positioned in the interior or the exterior of the arterial circulatory support lumen.    a venous circulation support catheter including a blood lumen with a proximal end coupled to the extracorporeal support apparatus and a distal end inserted into the blood circulation; and    a venous circulation support catheter occluding member to occlude the superior vena cava and the inferior vena cava, the venous circulation support catheter occluding member being positioned in an interior or at an exterior of the venous circulation support catheter.    
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the distal end of the vent lumen crosses the aortic valve.  
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the vent lumen is positioned in the arterial circulation support catheter blood lumen.  
     
     
         42 . A method for venting a left ventricle of a heart, comprising: 
 providing an extracorporeal circulation support system including an extracorporeal support apparatus, a venous circulation support catheter, an arterial circulation support catheter and a vent lumen;    introducing the arterial circulation support catheter into a blood circulation;    introducing the venous circulation support catheter into the blood circulation;    positioning a vent lumen distal end into a left ventricle of the heart; and    venting the left ventricle rough the vent lumen.    
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein a proximal end of the arterial circulation support catheter is coupled to an outlet port of the extracorporeal support device.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein a proximal end of the venous circulation support catheter is coupled to an inlet port of the extracorporeal support device.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the left ventricle is directly vented through the vent lumen.