| abstract |
A method and apparatus for assisting right ventricle function of the human heart is described. A catheter having three longitudinally spaced balloon elements is inserted into the blood vessels adjacent the heart such that the first and third balloon elements are disposed in the superior vena cava and the inferior vena cava, respectively, and the intermediate balloon element in the right atrial chamber. The superior vena cava and the inferior vena cava are simultaneously occluded by inflation of the first and third balloon elements and, after occlusion, the atrial chamber is pressurized, by inflation of the intermediate balloon element, to urge blood flow through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle. The first and third balloon elements are then deflated to allow blood flow to resume through the respective vessels and, thereafter, the intermediate balloon element is deflated to allow the atrial chamber to fill with blood. The cycle is repeated periodically at the heart rate. Control of inflation and deflation of the balloon elements is effected by separate gas supply and exhaust means coupled through a dual lumen catheter tube to the balloon elements and actuated in timed sequence. |