Patent ID: 8326421
Filing Date: 2012-12-04
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. A ventricular assist device comprising: an intra-aortic balloon pump sized and shaped to dangle inside a patient's aorta, the pump having a wall made at least in part from a moisture-resistant material; a skin interface; an internal drive line connecting the balloon pump to the skin interface; an external driver comprising a rigid bellows, a prime mover actuating the bellows, and valves arranged to permit multiple pumping modes, the prime mover being operably connected to a power source; an arterial interface, sized and shaped to pass the internal drive line through an arterial wall; an external drive line connecting the skin interface to the external driver; a controller; and an air pressure sensor configured to detect the pumping air pressure inside the fluid system as a function of time, the air pressure sensor being so connected to the controller as to allow transmission of a signal representative of the pumping air pressure to the controller; wherein: