Patent ID: 7182727

Claim:
A system for providing cardiac support during surgery, comprising: a blood pump having an inlet port and an outlet port that are coaxially aligned; a first conduit having a proximal opening and a distal opening, the proximal opening being sized and configured to be coupled to the inlet port of the blood pump, and the first conduit being sized and configured such that the distal opening may extend into a heart chamber or vessel; a second conduit having a proximal opening and a distal opening, the proximal opening being sized and configured to be coupled to the outlet port of the blood pump, and the second conduit being disposed generally coaxially relative to the first conduit and sized and configured such that the distal opening of the second conduit is spaced-apart from the distal end of the first conduit within the heart or vessel; at least one inflatable member disposed along at least one of the first conduit and the second conduit; and a fluid source capable of inflating the inflatable member.