Patent ID: 6926662

Claim:
A cannulation system for cardiac support comprising: an inner cannula disposed within an outer cannula, the outer cannula including a fluid inlet sized and configured for placement within the right atrium of a heart, the inner cannula including a fluid inlet sized and configured to extend through the fluid inlet of the outer cannula and the atrial septum for placement within at least one of the left atrium and left ventricle of the heart; and a pumping assembly coupled to the inner and outer cannulas and adapted to perform at least one of withdrawing blood from the right atrium for delivery to the pulmonary artery to provide right heart support, and withdrawing blood from at least one of the left atrium and left ventricle for delivery into the aorta to provide left heart support, wherein the outer cannula is equipped with a dilator member extending distally from the fluid inlet of the outer cannula adapted to facilitate passing the fluid inlet of the inner cannula through the atrial septum for positioning within the left side of the heart; wherein the pumping assembly includes a pump coupled to the inner cannula to withdraw blood from the left side of the heart, and an outflow cannula coupled to the pump and adapted to extend into the aorta for delivering the withdrawn blood into the aorta to provide left heart support.