Cardiac support device and method

A method of facilitating cardiac rest in a patient comprising:

• inducing a controlled reversible brachycardia or reversible asystole in the patient and applying life support techniques while the patient is in the asystolic state, the life support techniques comprising application of a closed extra-corporeal circulation system having:
• (a) a venous conduit,
• (b) a gas exchanger,
• (c) a pump for pumping at least a portion of the patient's blood,
• (d) arterial conduit, and
• (e) EKG gating mechanism comprising an EKG sensor means for sensing the patient's heartbeat, and a feedback means for coordinating the EKG sensor means with the pump wherein the pump discontinues for a time of at least one heartbeat sensed by the EKG sensor means and resumes pumping when the heartbeat is not sensed by the EKG sensor means, wherein said pumping provides a rate or a volume sufficient to maintain blood pressure above a preset level and is controlled by an intrinsic rate and/or volume setting,
• wherein said circulation system is arranged such that the venous conduit is connected to a vein of the patient, the arterial conduit is connected to an artery of the patient, the gas exchanger is connected to at least one of the venous conduit and the arterial conduit, and the pump is connected to at least one of the venous conduit and the arterial conduit, and
• wherein the gas exchanger is adapted to remove at least a portion of a quantity of carbon dioxide from the patient's blood and is further adapted to add a quantity of oxygen to the patient's blood.

A method of facilitating cardiac rest in a patient who has sustained a cardiac insult comprising:

• (a) induction of a controlled state of lowered metabolism of the myocardium of the human, said state including decreased heart rate and decreased oxygen utilization;
• and
• (b) administration of life support techniques including extra-corporeal circulation through a closed system, said system having a pump, a gas exchanger, a heat exchanger, a systolic gating mechanism and EKG gating mechanism that comprises an EKG sensor means for sensing the human's heartbeat, and a feedback means for coordinating the EKG sensor means with the pump wherein the pump discontinues for a time of at least one heartbeat sensed by the EKG sensor means and resumes pumping when the heartbeat is not sensed by the EKG sensor means, wherein said pumping provides a rate or a volume sufficient to maintain blood pressure above a preset level and is controlled by an intrinsic rate and/or volume setting,
• and wherein said controlled state of lowered metabolism facilitates further treatment to the heart without injury to the heart or compromise of blood supply the other vital organs.