Patent ID: 6896663

Claim:
A method for retrograde venous perfusion, comprising the steps of: providing a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end that branches into first and second distal segments, each distal segment having a lumen and a distal region having an expandable occluder and an infusion port located distal the occluder, the catheter further comprising a lumen extending from the proximal end and communicating with the lumen and infusion port of the first distal segment and the lumen and infusion port of the second distal segment; inserting the first distal segment into a first internal jugular vein; expanding the occluder on the first distal segment within the first internal jugular vein; inserting the second distal segment into a second internal jugular vein; expanding the occluder on the second distal segment within the second internal jugular vein; inserting the proximal end of the catheter into the right subclavian vein; withdrawing blood from the right subclavian vein; oxygenating the withdrawn blood; and infusing oxygenated medium into the first and second internal jugular veins through the lumens and infusion ports of the first and second distal segments, wherein oxygenated medium is returned to the cerebral tissues by retrograde venous perfusion.