Implantable heart assist system and method of applying same

Abstract

An extracardiac pumping for supplementing the circulation of blood, including the cardiac output, in a patient without any component thereof being connected to the patient's heart, and methods of using same. One embodiment of the intravascular extracardiac system comprises a pump with inflow and outflow conduits that are sized and configured to be implantable intravascularly through a non-primary vessel, whereby it may positioned where desired within the patient's vasculature. The system comprises a subcardiac pump that may be driven directly or electromagnetically from within or without the patient. The pump is configured to be operated continuously or in a pulsatile fashion, synchronous with the patient's heart, thereby potentially reducing the afterload of the heart. In another embodiment, the system is positioned extracorporeally, with the inflow conduit and outflow conduit applied percutaneously to a non-primary vessel for circulating blood to and from the non-primary vessel or between the non-primary vessel and another blood vessel within the patient's vasculature.

1 . A method for increasing perfusion through a renal artery, the method comprising: 
 providing fluid communication between a conduit and means for pumping blood;    advancing the pumping means to a location within the descending aorta and an outlet of the conduit to a location proximate a renal artery; and    operating said pumping means to direct blood from the descending aorta to the renal artery at volumetric rates that are on average subcardiac to increase perfusion through the renal artery.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprises advancing pump driving means into the vasculature.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein advancing further comprises advancing the conduit to a location in the vasculature having a width that is meaningfully larger than the width of the conduit.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit has a first width and advancing comprises advancing the conduit to a location within the vasculature having a second width, the first width being less than about one-half the second width.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a blood flow path in a side lumen of the conduit adjacent the pumping means.