Overdrive system for an intra-aortic balloon pump

摘要

An intra-aortic balloon pump includes an overdrive system for inflating the intra-aortic balloon with a working gas and deflating the balloon more rapidly. A substantially constant inflation pressure is applied to the working gas for a predetermined time to substantially fully inflate the balloon to a working pressure. The inflation pressure is then reduced to a pressure which is substantially equal to the working pressure so as to maintain the balloon in the inflated condition and prevent its overinflation. Subsequently, a substantially constant deflation pressure is applied to the working gas and is held for a predetermined time to substantially fully deflate the balloon to a desired end deflation pressure. The deflation pressure is then increased to a pressure which is substantially equal to the end deflation pressure so as to maintain the balloon in the deflated condition and ready the system for the next inflation cycle.