Fast response intra-aortic balloon pump

A method for inflating and deflating a medical device, said medical device being connected to a conduit including a tubular inflation extender portion having a lumen, a tubular deflation extender portion having a lumen, and a tubular catheter portion having a lumen, said lumens of said inflation and deflation extender portions being larger in diameter than said lumen of said catheter portion, said catheter portion and said medical device being connected in series with said inflation and deflation extender portions so that one end of said catheter portion is connected in flow communication both to one end of said inflation extender portion and to one end of said deflation extender portion and another end of said catheter portion is connected in flow communication to said medical device, said method comprising:

• applying a working gas to said inflation extender portion to develop an inflation pressure therein, whereby said working gas flows from said inflation extender portion through said catheter portion to said medical device to substantially fully inflate said medical device to a working pressure;
• applying a working gas to said deflation extender portion to develop a deflation pressure therein while interrupting flow communication between said deflation extender portion and said catheter portion, whereby said working gas is prevented from flowing out from said catheter portion and said medical device, said deflation pressure being less than said working pressure;
• and
• establishing flow communication between said deflation extender portion and said catheter portion while interrupting flow communication between said inflation extender portion and said catheter portion, whereby said working gas flows from said medical device through said catheter portion to said deflation extender portion to substantially fully deflate said medical device.

A method for inflating and deflating a medical device, said medical device being connected to a conduit including a tubular inflation extender portion having a lumen, a tubular deflation extender portion having a lumen, and a tubular catheter portion having a lumen, said lumens of said inflation and deflation extender portions being larger in diameter than said lumen of said catheter portion, said catheter portion and said medical device being connected in series with said inflation and deflation extender portions so that one end of said catheter portion is connected in flow communication both to one end of said inflation extender portion and to one end of said deflation extender portion and another end of said catheter portion is connected in flow communication to said medical device, said method comprising:

• applying a working gas to said inflation extender portion to develop an inflation pressure therein while interrupting flow communication between said inflation extender portion and said catheter portion, whereby said working gas is prevented from flowing into said catheter portion and said medical device;
• establishing flow communication between said inflation extender portion and said catheter portion while intermitting flow communication between said deflation extender portion and said catheter portion, whereby said working gas flows from said inflation extender portion through said catheter portion to said medical device to substantially fully inflate said medical device to a working pressure lower than said inflation pressure;
• applying a working gas to said deflation extender portion to develop a deflation pressure therein while interrupting flow communication between said deflation extender portion and said catheter portion, whereby said working gas is prevented from flowing out from said catheter portion and said medical device, said deflation pressure being less than said working pressure;
• and
• establishing flow communication between said deflation extender portion and said catheter portion while interrupting flow communication between said inflation extender portion and said catheter portion, whereby said working gas flows from said medical device through said catheter portion to said deflation extender portion to substantially fully deflate said medical device.

A medical apparatus, comprising:

• an inflatable member having an inflated condition and a deflated condition;
• a catheter having a lumen, a first end connected to said inflatable member and a second end;
• an extender having a lumen, a first end connected to said second end of said catheter and a second end, said lumen of said extender being larger in diameter than said lumen of said catheter;
• a working gas for inflating said inflatable member;
• a pressure source connected to said second end of said extender for supplying said working gas to said extender and for removing said working gas from said extender;
• and
• a first valve positioned adjacent said first end of said extender, said first valve having open and closed conditions, whereby, with said inflatable member in said deflated condition and said first valve in said closed condition, said working gas may be supplied by said pressure source to said extender without placing said inflatable member in said inflated condition, and with said inflatable member in said inflated condition and said first valve in said closed condition, said working gas may be removed by said pressure source from said extender without placing said inflatable member in said deflated condition.

A medical apparatus, comprising:

• an inflatable member having an inflated condition and a deflated condition;
• a catheter having a lumen, a first end connected to said inflatable member and a second end;
• an inflation extender having a lumen, a first end connected to said second end of said catheter and a second end, said lumen of said inflation extender being larger in diameter than said lumen of said catheter;
• a deflation extender having a lumen, a first end connected to said second end of said catheter and a second end, said lumen of said deflation extender being larger in diameter than said lumen of said catheter;
• a working gas for inflating said inflatable member;
• a pressure source connected to said second end of said inflation extender for supplying said working gas to said inflation extender, and connected to said second end of said deflation extender for removing said working gas from said deflation extender;
• and
• a first valve positioned adjacent said first end of said inflation extender, said first valve having a first position establishing flow communication between said inflation extender and said catheter, and a closed position interrupting flow communication between said inflation extender and said catheter, whereby, with said inflatable member in said deflated condition and said first valve in said closed position, said working gas may be supplied by said pressure source to said inflation extender without placing said inflatable member in said inflated condition, and with said inflatable member in said deflated condition and said first valve in said first position, said working gas may be supplied from said inflation extender through said catheter to said inflatable member.

A method for inflating and deflating a medical device, said medical device being connected to a conduit including a tubular inflation extender portion having a lumen, a tubular deflation extender portion having a lumen and a working gas at a deflation pressure therein, and a tubular catheter portion having a lumen, said lumens of said inflation and deflation extender portions being larger in diameter than said lumen of said catheter portion, said catheter portion and said medical device being connected in series with said inflation and deflation extender portions so that one end of said catheter portion is connected in flow communication both to one end of said inflation extender portion and to one end of said deflation extender portion and another end of said catheter portion is connected in flow communication to said medical device, said method comprising:

• applying a working gas to said inflation extender portion to develop an inflation pressure therein, whereby said working gas flows from said inflation extender portion through said catheter portion to commence inflation of said medical device;
• interrupting flow communication between said inflation extender portion and said catheter portion before said medical device has reached a fully inflated condition and establishing flow communication between said deflation extender portion and said catheter portion, whereby said working gas flows from said medical device through said catheter portion to said deflation extender portion to commence deflation of said medical device.