Patent ID: 8123737

Claim:
In a method for performing cardiovascular surgery on a patient using a cardiopulmonary machine for extracorporeal circulation of blood, the improvement that comprises using a single, multichannel catheter for the extracorporeal circulation wherein the multichannel catheter comprises: at least three independent channels and an expandable balloon at a distal end of the catheter, a first largest channel of a size to allow delivery of an amount of blood to a patient that is sufficient to support the patient metabolism and perfusion throughout the surgery, a plurality of openings through a wall of said first channel, wherein an area of said plurality of openings exceeds a cross-sectional area of said first channel, a second channel, smaller than the first channel and integrated into the wall of the first channel, said second channel for (a) delivering cardioplegia solution to the heart and (b) venting the left heart, and a third channel also smaller than the first channel and integrated into the wall of the first channel, said third channel suitable for delivery of a fluid to the balloon for its expansion when positioned in the ascending aorta to occlude the flow of blood, wherein the blood is delivered to the patient through said plurality of openings, said plurality of openings being proximal of the balloon and wherein cardioplegia solution is delivered through the second channel out an opening that is distal of the balloon.