Implantable heart assist system and method of applying same

An extracardiac pumping system for supplementing blood circulation in a patient without any component thereof being connected to the patient's heart, the extracardiac system comprising:

• a pump configured to pump blood through the patient at subcardiac flow rates, said pump having an average flow rate that, during normal operation thereof, is substantially below that of the patient's heart when healthy;
• an inflow conduit fluidly coupled to the pump to direct blood to the pump from a first blood vessel;
• an outflow conduit fluidly coupled to the pump to direct blood from the pump to a second blood vessel;
• and
• a multi-lumen catheter housing at least two lumens, a first lumen fluidly connected to the inflow conduit and a second lumen fluidly connected to the outflow conduit, at least one lumen also fluidly connected to a blood vessel branching off from a blood vessel connected to the patient's heart;
• whereby the system is applied to the patient at a single site and whereby blood may flow from the first blood vessel through the first lumen in the multi-lumen catheter into the inflow conduit and where blood may flow from the pump through the outflow conduit into the second lumen and into the second blood vessel.

A method of supplementing blood circulation in a patient using an extracardiac system comprising a pump, an inflow conduit and an outflow conduit, said method of using the extracardiac system not involving connecting any component of the extracardiac system to the patient's heart, the method comprising the steps of:

• inserting a multi-lumen catheter into the patient at a first blood vessel branching off from a blood vessel that is connected to the patient's heart, the multi-lumen catheter housing at least two lumens, a first lumen in fluid communication with the first blood vessel and the inflow conduit, a second lumen fluidly connected to a second blood vessel and the outflow conduit, said inflow and outflow conduits being fluidly coupled to the pump;
• withdrawing blood from the first blood vessel at subcardiac flow rates;
• and
• delivering blood from the pump through the outflow conduit to the second blood vessel.

An extracardiac pumping system for supplementing blood circulation in a patient without any component thereof being connected to the patient's heart, the extracardiac system comprising:

• a pump configured to pump blood through the patient at subcardiac flow rates, said pump having an average flow rate that, during normal operation thereof, is substantially below that of the patient's heart when healthy;
• an inflow conduit fluidly coupled to the pump to direct blood to the pump from a peripheral blood vessel, the inflow conduit having a first end comprising an intake port, the first end further comprising a wall having at least one hole therein to permit the passage of blood from the intake port through said hole;
• and
• an outflow conduit fluidly coupled to the pump to direct blood from the pump to a second blood vessel.

An extracardiac pumping system for supplementing blood circulation in a patient without any component thereof being connected to the patient's heart, the extracardiac system comprising:

• a pump configured to pump blood through the patient at subcardiac flow rates, said pump having an average flow rate that, during normal operation thereof, is substantially below that of the patient's heart when healthy;
• an inflow conduit fluidly coupled to the pump to direct blood to the pump from a first peripheral blood vessel, the inflow conduit having a first end sized and configured to couple to the first peripheral blood vessel;
• an outflow conduit fluidly coupled to the pump to direct blood from the pump to a second blood vessel;
• and
• means for minimizing heat loss from the blood that flows through the system.

A method for supplementing the circulation of blood in a patient while minimizing blood cell concentration at the center of a blood vessel in the patient's circulatory system, said method using an extracardiac heart assist system without connecting any component of the system to the patient's heart, the method comprising the steps of:

• connecting a distal end of an inflow conduit to a first blood vessel to permit the flow of blood to a pump from the first blood vessel;
• connecting a distal end of an outflow conduit to a second blood vessel to permit the flow of blood away from the pump to the second blood vessel;
• operating the pump to perfuse blood through the patient's circulatory system at subcardiac rates;
• determining the velocity of blood flowing in the patient's aorta;
• and
• adjusting the pump output accordingly.

An extracardiac pumping system for supplementing blood circulation in a patient without any component thereof being connected to the patient's heart, the extracardiac system comprising:

• a pump configured to pump blood through the patient at subcardiac flow rates, said pump having an average flow rate that, during normal operation thereof, is substantially below that of the patient's heart when healthy;
• an inflow conduit fluidly coupled to the pump to direct blood to the pump from a first blood vessel that branches off from a blood vessel directly connected to the heart, the inflow conduit having a first end sized and configured to couple to the first blood vessel;
• and
• an outflow conduit fluidly coupled to the pump to direct blood from the pump to a second blood vessel that branches off from a blood vessel directly connected to the heart, the outflow conduit having a first end sized and configured to couple to the second blood vessel.