Patent ID: 7905823

Claim:
A blood circulation assist system for increasing blood flow between a chamber in a heart of a patient and a remote location in the circulatory system of the patient, the system comprising: an inflow cannula having a lumen; and an insertion device configured to be received within the lumen of the inflow cannula and to facilitate insertion of a portion of the inflow cannula into the chamber of the heart, wherein the insertion device comprises: a shaft having a distal end portion, a proximal end portion and a plurality of lumens formed therein, a first one of the lumens being configured to receive a guidewire therein and a second one of the lumens being configured to receive a pressurized fluid therein; a tip connected to the distal end portion of the shaft, the tip being configured for insertion into the chamber of the heart, the tip having a hollow interior communicating with the first one of the lumens of the shaft; and an inflatable member coupled to the distal end portion of the shaft and comprising a hollow interior in fluid communication with the second one of the lumens of the shaft, the inflatable member being movable between a first, deflated configuration wherein the inflatable member is disengaged with the inflow cannula and a second, inflated configuration wherein the insertion device is releasably secured to the inflow cannula.