Internal cardiac assist apparatus

Claim 2

An internal cardiac assist apparatus comprising: a balloon having a variable internal volume; and a tube coupled to said balloon for feeding and discharging a gas within said balloon, one end of said tube being sealed; said balloon being connected to said tube so that said balloon contains said tube in said balloon for a prescribed length of said tube near said one sealed end of said tube; at least one hole in said tube which extends in a lengthwise direction in a wall of the portion of said tube contained in said balloon, said at least one hole being arranged to feed and discharge gas therethrough; said balloon having a lateral cross-section which, during inflation thereof, is in the shape of a tongue having a base portion and ends on opposite sides of said base portion, at least said ends on both opposite sides of said base portion of the tongue being secured to said tube; said tube having a cross-sectional shape such that at least a region that makes contact with an incision in the skin of a patient when the internal cardiac assist apparatus is inserted into the body of the patient is in the shape of an oval; and wherein: said tube comprises a concentric duplex tube, which includes feeding and discharge portions, respectively; and at least one each of said at least one hole for gas feeding and discharge of gas are respectively provided in the lengthwise direction of said tube so as to connect each tube of said concentric duplex tube.

Claim 3

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said tube has a further hole therein that passes radially through said tube in the sealed end of said tube.

Claim 4

An internal cardiac assist apparatus comprising: a balloon having a variable internal volume; and a tube coupled to said balloon for feeding and discharging a gas within said balloon, one end of said tube being sealed; said balloon being connected to said tube so that said balloon contains said tube in said balloon for a prescribed length of said tube near said one sealed end of said tube; at least one hole in said tube which extends in a lengthwise direction in a wall of the portion of said tube contained in said balloon, said at least one hole being arranged to feed and discharge gas therethrough; said balloon having a lateral cross-section which, during inflation thereof, is in the shape of a tongue having a base portion and ends on opposite sides of said base portion, at least said ends on both opposite sides of said base portion of the tongue being secured to said tube; said tube having a cross-sectional shape such that at least a region that makes contact with an incision in the skin of a patient when the internal cardiac assist apparatus is inserted into the body of the patient is in the shape of an oval; and wherein: said tube comprises a single tube having an internal septum forming inner chambers in said single tube, said inner chambers formed by said septum being used for gas feeding and gas discharge, respectively; and at least one each of said at least one hole for gas feeding and discharge of gas are respectively provided in the lengthwise direction of said tube so as to connect said inner chambers.

Claim 5

An internal cardiac assist apparatus comprising: a balloon having a variable internal volume; and a tube coupled to said balloon for feeding and discharging a gas within said balloon, one end of said tube being sealed; said balloon being connected to said tube so that said balloon contains said tube in said balloon for a prescribed length of said tube near said one sealed end of said tube; at least one hole in said tube which extends in a lengthwise direction in a wall of the portion of said tube contained in said balloon, said at least one hole being arranged to feed and discharge gas therethrough; said balloon having a lateral cross-section which, during inflation thereof, is in the shape of a tongue having a base portion and ends on opposite sides of said base portion, at least said ends on both opposite sides of said base portion of the tongue being secured to said tube; said tube having a cross-sectional shape such that at least a region that makes contact with an incision in the skin of a patient when the internal cardiac assist apparatus is inserted into the body of the patient is in the shape of an oval; and wherein: said tube comprises a single tube having an internal septum forming inner chambers in said single tube, said inner chambers formed by said septum being used for gas feeding and gas discharge, respectively; and at least one each of said at least one hole for gas feeding and discharge of gas are respectively provided in the lengthwise direction of said tube so as to connect said inner chambers.

Claim 6

The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said tube has a further hole therein that passes radially through said tube in the sealed end of said tube.

Claim 7

An internal cardiac assist apparatus comprising: a balloon having a variable internal volume; and a tube member including: a first tube section comprising first and second proximal and parallel straight tube portions for feeding or discharge of gas into said balloon, said first straight tube portion being inside of said second straight tube portion; and a curved tube portion having at least one end which is connected to ends of said first and second straight tube portions of said first tube section; wherein said balloon is secured to said tube so that said curved tube portion of said tube is contained within said balloon; and wherein at least one each of holes for feeding or discharge of said gas are opened in a wall of said curved tube portion of said tube.

Claim 8

An internal cardiac assist apparatus comprising: a balloon having a variable internal volume; and a tube member including: a first tube section comprising first and second proximal and parallel straight tube portions for feeding or discharge of gas into said balloon, said first straight tube portion being inside of said second straight tube portion; and a curved tube portion having at least one end which is connected to ends of said first and second straight tube portions of said first tube section; wherein said balloon is secured to said tube so that said curved tube portion of said tube is contained within said balloon; and wherein at least one each of holes for feeding or discharge of said gas are opened in a wall of said curved tube portion of said tube.

Claim 9

The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said balloon, during inflation thereof, has a lateral surface in the shape of a tongue.

Claim 10

The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said balloon, during inflation thereof, has a lateral surface which is nearly in the shape of a rectangle, said balloon having upper and lower surfaces which are circular in shape, and said balloon having at least one surface between said upper and lower surfaces that has a surface area smaller than a surface area of said upper and lower surfaces.

Claim 11

The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said tube has a cross-sectional shape such that at least a region that makes contact with an incision in the skin of a patient when the internal cardiac assist apparatus is inserted into the body of the patient is in the shape of an oval.

Claim 12

The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a tab provided on a wall portion of said curved tube portion of said tube, and wherein a through hole is provided in said tab.

Claim 13

The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said tube has a cross-sectional shape such that at least a region that makes contact with an incision in the skin of a patient when the internal cardiac assist apparatus is inserted into the body of the patient is in the shape of an oval.

Claim 14

The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a tab provided on a wall portion of said curved tube portion of said tube, and wherein a through hole is provided in said tab.

Claim 15

An internal cardiac assist apparatus comprising: a balloon having a variable internal volume; and a tube for feeding and discharging gas into said balloon, said tube having an end and an internal space; said balloon having a base portion which is engaged with an inner wall on the end of said tube; and a portion of said balloon being contained in the internal space of said tube during deflation of said balloon, and wherein said balloon bursts outside of said tube during inflation of said balloon.

Claim 16

An internal cardiac assist apparatus comprising: a balloon having a variable internal volume; and a tube for feeding and discharging gas into said balloon, said tube having an end and an internal space; said balloon having a base portion which is engaged with an inner wall on the end of said tube; and a portion of said balloon being contained in the internal space of said tube during deflation of said balloon, and wherein said balloon bursts outside of said tube during inflation of said balloon.

Claim 17

The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said tube has a cross-sectional shape such that at least a region that makes contact with an incision in the skin of a patient when the internal cardiac assist apparatus is inserted into the body of the patient is in the shape of an oval.

Claim 18

The apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising: a device that detects a heart beat; and a control device that performs the feeding and discharge of said gas via said tube, in synchronism with the detected heart beat.

Claim 19

The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said device that detects a heart beat includes: a first electrode and a second electrode; said first electrode being attached at a region on an opposite side of a direction of balloon inflation or the end of said tube; and said second electrode being a ring-shaped electrode slidably arranged on an outer surface of said tube.

Claim 20

The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said ring-shaped electrode is at least partially made of silver.

Claim 21

The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising: a device that detects a heart beat; and a control device that performs the feeding and discharge of said gas via said tube, in synchronism with the detected heart beat.

Claim 22

The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said device that detects a heart beat includes: a first electrode and a second electrode; said first electrode being attached at a region on an opposite side of a direction of balloon inflation or the end of said tube; and said second electrode being a ring-shaped electrode slidably arranged on an outer surface of said tube.

Claim 23

The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said ring-shaped electrode is at least partially made of silver.

Claim 24

The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a device that detects a heart beat; and a control device that performs the feeding and discharge of said gas via said tube, in synchronism with the detected heart beat.

Claim 25

The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said device that detects a heart beat includes: a first electrode and a second electrode; said first electrode being attached at a region on an opposite side of a direction of balloon inflation or the end of said tube; and said second electrode being a ring-shaped electrode slidably arranged on an outer surface of said tube.

Claim 26

The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said ring-shaped electrode is at least partially made of silver.

Claim 27

An internal cardiac assist apparatus comprising: a balloon having a variable internal volume; and a tube coupled to said balloon for feeding and discharging a gas within said balloon, one end of said tube being sealed; said balloon being connected to said tube so that said balloon contains said tube in said balloon for a prescribed length of said tube near said one sealed end of said tube; at least one hole in said tube which extends in a lengthwise direction in a wall of the portion of said tube contained in said balloon, said at least one hole being arranged to feed and discharge gas therethrough; said balloon having: a lateral surface which, during inflation thereof, is nearly in the shape of a rectangle; upper and lower surfaces which are in the shape of an oval; and at least one surface between said upper and lower surfaces that has a surface area smaller than a surface area of said upper and lower surfaces; said tube having a cross-sectional shape such that at least a region that makes contact with an incision in the skin of a patient when the internal cardiac assist apparatus is inserted into the body of the patient is in the shape of an oval; and wherein: said tube comprises a concentric duplex tube, which includes feeding and discharge portions, respectively; and at least one each of said at least one hole for gas feeding and discharge of gas are respectively provided in the lengthwise direction of said tube so as to connect each tube of said concentric duplex tube.

Claim 28

An internal cardiac assist apparatus comprising: a balloon having a variable internal volume; and a tube coupled to said balloon for feeding and discharging a gas within said balloon, one end of said tube being sealed; said balloon being connected to said tube so that said balloon contains said tube in said balloon for a prescribed length of said tube near said one sealed end of said tube; at least one hole in said tube which extends in a lengthwise direction in a wall of the portion of said tube contained in said balloon, said at least one hole being arranged to feed and discharge gas therethrough; said balloon having: a lateral surface which, during inflation thereof, is nearly in the shape of a rectangle; upper and lower surfaces which are in the shape of an oval; and at least one surface between said upper and lower surfaces that has a surface area smaller than a surface area of said upper and lower surfaces; said tube having a cross-sectional shape such that at least a region that makes contact with an incision in the skin of a patient when the internal cardiac assist apparatus is inserted into the body of the patient is in the shape of an oval; and wherein: said tube comprises a concentric duplex tube, which includes feeding and discharge portions, respectively; and at least one each of said at least one hole for gas feeding and discharge of gas are respectively provided in the lengthwise direction of said tube so as to connect each tube of said concentric duplex tube.

Claim 29

An internal cardiac assist apparatus comprising: a balloon having a variable internal volume; and a tube coupled to said balloon for feeding and discharging a gas within said balloon, one end of said tube being sealed; said balloon being connected to said tube so that said balloon contains said tube in said balloon for a prescribed length of said tube near said one sealed end of said tube; at least one hole in said tube which extends in a lengthwise direction in a wall of the portion of said tube contained in said balloon, said at least one hole being arranged to feed and discharge gas therethrough; said balloon having: a lateral surface which, during inflation of said balloon, is in the shape of a rectangle; upper and lower surfaces which are in the shape of an oval; and at least one surface between said upper and lower surfaces that has a surface area smaller than a surface area of said upper and lower surfaces; said tube having a cross-sectional shape such that at least a region that makes contact with an incision in the skin of a patient when the internal cardiac assist apparatus is inserted into the body of the patient is in the shape of an oval; and wherein: said tube comprises a single tube having an internal septum forming inner chambers in said single tube, said inner chambers formed by said septum being used for gas feeding and gas discharge, respectively; and at least one each of said at least one hole for gas feeding and discharge of gas are respectively provided in the lengthwise direction of said tube so as to connect said inner chambers.

Claim 30

An internal cardiac assist apparatus comprising: a balloon having a variable internal volume; and a tube coupled to said balloon for feeding and discharging a gas within said balloon, one end of said tube being sealed; said balloon being connected to said tube so that said balloon contains said tube in said balloon for a prescribed length of said tube near said one sealed end of said tube; at least one hole in said tube which extends in a lengthwise direction in a wall of the portion of said tube contained in said balloon, said at least one hole being arranged to feed and discharge gas therethrough; said balloon having: a lateral surface which, during inflation of said balloon, is in the shape of a rectangle; upper and lower surfaces which are in the shape of an oval; and at least one surface between said upper and lower surfaces that has a surface area smaller than a surface area of said upper and lower surfaces; said tube having a cross-sectional shape such that at least a region that makes contact with an incision in the skin of a patient when the internal cardiac assist apparatus is inserted into the body of the patient is in the shape of an oval; and wherein: said tube comprises a single tube having an internal septum forming inner chambers in said single tube, said inner chambers formed by said septum being used for gas feeding and gas discharge, respectively; and at least one each of said at least one hole for gas feeding and discharge of gas are respectively provided in the lengthwise direction of said tube so as to connect said inner chambers.