Patent ID: 6699259
Filing Date: 2004-03-02
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A minimally invasive device for cardiac massage within the chest of a human, said device comprising:a rigid insertion rod having a distal end and a proximal end, and having a fluid conduit communicating from the proximal end to the distal end, and having an fluid port in the distal end and a fluid port in the proximal end, said distal and proximal fluid ports communicating with the fluid conduit so that the fluid ports and fluid conduit provide a pathway for fluid to pass through the rigid tube; a balloon mounted on the distal end of the rigid insertion rod over the distal fluid port so that the balloon may be inflated and deflated by passage of fluid through the fluid conduit, said balloon and distal end of the rod forming an insertion portion; said insertion portion being sized and dimensioned to enable insertion of the insertion portion within the chest of the human between the heart and the sternum of the human, when the balloon is deflated; said balloon adapted to assume an inflated state wherein the balloon has a configuration sized and dimensioned to compress the heart when said balloon is inflated within the chest of the human and a deflated state in which it may be compacted into a compact configuration in close proximity to the insertion rod when deflated; and an introducer sleeve adapted to surround the balloon and insertion portion when the balloon is in the compact configuration, said introducer sleeve having a score line along its length to permit it to be torn off the insertion rod after the insertion rod is inserted into the chest, said score line being disposed laterally on the introducer sleeve.