| abstract |
An apparatus for assisting blood circulation includes an inflow tube which can be inserted into the right atrium from a peripheral blood vessel or which can be inserted into the left atrium from a peripheral blood vessel through the right atrium and the foramen ovale of the interarterial septum. An outflow tube is inserted into the aorta or into the carotid artery from a peripheral blood vessel to deliver the blood to the aorta or to the carotid artery. The outlet tube has an outlet for blood on the side of a upstream part of the tube and a blood pump which can take in the blood from the inflow tube and send out the blood to the outflow tube. When the former inflow tube is used, it also comprises an oxygen gas exchanger which exchanges carbon dioxide in the blood for oxygen. The apparatus can be very easily applied to the patient without thoracotomy to assist the circulation of blood. The function of the lung is assisted, the load on the heart is reduced and the blood flow volume of the coronary artery is increased. The circulation of blood in the whole body or in the brain is assisted. |