Expandable percutaneous cannula

Inventors

Badhwar, Vinay • D'Amore, Antonio • McKeel, Daniel • Wagner, William R.

Assignees

RiMed Foundation • University of Pittsburgh

Abstract

Provided herein is a percutaneous expandable venous cannula device, and related methods. The device is easily inserted, for example, using standard Seldinger technique via the right internal jugular. The device includes multiple, multi-holed limbs that softly fill, e.g., the right atrium to facilitate complete drainage, enable retraction of the chamber in surgery, and mitigate suction occlusion, filling the entire atrium and allowing for efficient and rapid emptying of the chamber. In aspects, the device facilitates minimally-invasive aortic or mitral valve surgery with single placement via the right internal jugular as the sole cannula needed for full support.

Core Innovation

The invention relates to an expandable percutaneous venous cannula device for minimally invasive cardiac surgery and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The device includes a flexible, tubular elongated member having a proximal end, a distal end, a wall defining a lumen or passageway, and a longitudinal axis, with an actuator extending within the passageway from the proximal end to beyond the distal end.

A distal head unit is attached to and extends from the distal end of the elongated member. The distal head unit includes three or more flexible tubes extending within the passageway of the elongated member, each tube having a wall, a lumen, a proximal end, and a distal end, and a plurality of holes extending through the wall of one or more of the flexible tubes.

A first spacer is affixed to a distal end of the actuator and to the distal ends of the flexible tubes to space the flexible tubes in a pattern around the actuator, and a second spacer proximal to the first spacer is affixed to the distal end of the elongated member and includes a guide through which the actuator passes, retaining the flexible tubes in a pattern around the actuator. A closed fluid path is defined by at least the flexible tubes and extends to an outlet to which suction can be applied to draw fluid through the holes of the flexible tubes, through the flexible tubes, and through the outlet; in one embodiment, the actuator comprises a plurality of holes.

Claims Coverage

The patent provides two independent claims. Across these claims, the inventive features are a flexible tubular elongated member with an internal actuator, a distal head unit with three or more flexible tubes spaced around the actuator by first and second spacers, a closed fluid path to an outlet where suction draws fluid through holes in the flexible tubes, and, in one claim, an actuator comprising a plurality of holes.

The independent claims define a percutaneous cannula device with a flexible tubular elongated member and an internal actuator, a distal head unit formed from three or more flexible tubes arranged around the actuator using first and second spacers, and a closed fluid path to an outlet where suction draws fluid through holes in the flexible tubes and through the flexible tubes to the outlet; one independent claim further limits the actuator to include a plurality of holes.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications