Percutaneous cardiac pump for cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Abstract

An apparatus and method for cardiac resuscitation comprising an expandable member carried in a contracted status at one end of a rigid stem. The expandable member is inserted into the chest cavity adjacent to the heart via the rigid stem through the chest wall via a slight skin incision, preferably entering the chest wail in an area correspondent to a region, in the inner aspect of the chest wall, which is anatomically designated `sine pleura`, i.e. without pleura. Entry in said selected area averts the occurrence of pneumothorax. The distal end of the rigid stem carrying the expandable member in a contracted status is blunt so as to permit advancing of the rigid stem toward the chest cavity by blunt dissection through the chest wall and blunt entry into the chest cavity, to prevent cutting injuries to the structures of the chest wall and to the intrathoracic organs. Additionally the distal end of the rigid stem is of small size so as to open a self-sealing passage of negligible diameter through the chest wall. Upon entry into the chest cavity, the advancement of the stem carrying the expandable member automatically arrests to prevent blunt injuries to the heart, the expandable member is expanded, the arrest of the stem is released and the heart is alternatively compressed and decompressed against the thoracic spine via the expanded expandable member by applying and releasing mechanical pressure to the expandable member via the rigid stem from outside the chest cavity. In another embodiment the heart is compressed and decompressed by alternatively expanding and contracting said expandable member respectively towards and away from the heart. The apparatus further includes numerous safety mechanisms to prevent injuries to the intrathoracic organs and mishaps. Such an apparatus provides an effective method for cardiopulmonary resuscitation equivalent to open cardiac massage without the trauma, invasiveness, complications and delay in institution associated with thoracotomy and can be implemented in the field, in the site where the cardiac arrest has occurred, within the critical time frame for a successful resuscitation.

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