Patent ID: 6306116
Filing Date: 2001-10-23
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
An apparatus for assisting cardiac function of a heart having a right atrium, a right ventricle, an inferior vena cava, and a superior vena cava connected to the superior vena cava, said apparatus comprising:an intake tube having a distal portion which defines at least one intake port, wherein the distal portion is configured to be positioned in at least one of the inferior vena cava and the superior vena cava to allow blood to flow into the intake tube through the at least one intake port from said at least one of the inferior vena cava and the superior vena cava;a return assembly having a distal portion which defines at least one return port; anda pump, coupled between the intake tube and the return assembly and configured to pump the blood from the intake tube to the return assembly, wherein the blood has a first average pressure in the intake tube and an average pressure greater than the first average pressure in the return assembly, and the distal portion of the return assembly is configured to be positioned in one of the right atrium and the right ventricle when the distal portion of the intake tube is positioned in said at least one of the inferior vena cava and the superior vena cava, thereby allowing the blood in the return assembly to flow through the at least one return port into said one of the right atrium and the right ventricle, wherein the return assembly comprises:a manifold at the distal portion of the return assembly, wherein the manifold has an outer surface perforated by the at least one return port and by a return tube port, and wherein the intake tube passes through the manifold; anda return tube coupled between the pump and the return tube port of the manifold, whereby blood can flow from the pump through the return tube into the manifold and out from the manifold through said at least one return port.