Patent ID: 7374531

Claim:
A long-term chronic ambulatory intra-aortic balloon pump system for assisting left ventricular cardiac function of a patient comprising: an intra-lumenal balloon pump assembled with at least one elongate inflatable chamber, the intra-lumenal balloon pump positionable to be lying completely within a descending aorta of the patient, each inflatable chamber connected in fluid communication to simultaneously inflate and deflate synchronously with respect to a heartbeat of the patient, wherein the assembled intra-lumenal balloon pump of the at least one inflatable chamber custom fits a particular tortuosity of a descending aorta presented by the patient based on results from at least one medical imaging procedure providing anatomic information regarding the patient, wherein the anatomic information determines appropriate selection of diameter size, length, location, number of chambers, and displacement for each individual inflatable chamber of the intra-lumenal balloon pump to be assembled prior to surgical implantation; and at least one anchor member for anchoring the balloon pump in a stationary location within the descending aorta.