Inventors:
James A. Magovern - Pittsburgh PA, US
Scott B. Allison - Salt Lake City UT, US
Royce G. Barraclough - Kaysville UT, US
James R. Revenaugh - Salt Lake City UT, US
Douglas E. Smith - Pittsburgh PA, US
David H. J. Wang - Pittsburgh PA, US
Assignee:
CardiacAssist, Inc. - Pittsburgh PA
International Classification:
A61N 1/362
Abstract:
A system for assisting the right heart of a patient includes a PA cannula adapted for insertion into a PA of a patient through the right internal jugular vein of the patient. The system includes a percutaneous RA cannula adapted for insertion into an RA of the patient. The system includes a blood pump disposed outside of the patient to which the RA cannula and the PA cannula are connected to provide right ventricular circulatory support to the patient without any left ventricular assist. A method for assisting the right heart of a patient includes the steps of inserting a PA cannula into a PA of a patient. There is the step of inserting an RA cannula into an RA of the patient. There is the step of connecting the RA cannula and the PA cannula to a blood pump disposed outside of the patient. There is the step of activating the blood pump to provide right ventricular circulatory support to assist the heart of the patient.