| 摘要 |
A retrograde venous cardioplegia balloon catheter (20) has a flexible cannula (22) on which is mounted an inflatable, tapered balloon (34) which divides the flexible cannula (22) into a proximal portion (22a) which is stiffer than a distal portion (22b). Balloon (34) may be inserted into a body opening, such as the ostium (46) of a human heart (52) to position soft, flexible distal portion (22b) within the coronary sinus (44). Balloon (34) is inflated to seal the ostium (46) and force may be applied by means of the stiff proximal portion (22a) to maintain the turgid balloon (34) in place to seal the ostium and leave substantially the entire coronary sinus (44) open to infusion by cardioplegia solution. A method of using the balloon catheter (20) includes positioning inflatable balloon (34) within the ostium (46) and imposing a force (e.g., by collapsing the right atrial wall) via distal portion (22b) on balloon (34) in its turgid condition, to maintain it in place within ostium (46). |
