Methods and apparatus for anchoring an occluding member

Abstract

Pressure is measured on both sides of an occluding member for determining when pressure forces on the occluding member may cause migration of the occluding member. An alarm indicates when the pressure force on the balloon exceed a predetermined threshold. In another aspect of the invention, a pressure monitor determines when a rate of pressure increase with respect to the fluid volume in the balloon reaches a predetermined threshold when inflating the occluding member. A predetermined amount of fluid is then added to the balloon so that the balloon is not under inflated or over inflated.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 570,286, filed Dec. 11, 1995, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 08 / 486,216, filed Jun. 7, 1995 which is a continuation-in-part of application of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 282,192, filed Jul. 28, 1994, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08 / 162,742, filed Dec. 3, 1993, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08 / 123,411, filed Sep. 17, 1993, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07 / 991,188, filed Dec. 15, 1992, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07 / 730,559, filed Jul. 16, 1991, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,370,685 on Dec. 6, 1994. This application is also related to copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 159,815, filed Nov. 30, 1993, which is a U.S. counterpart of Australian Patent Application No. PL 6170, filed Dec. 3, 1992. This application is also rela...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0033] The first portion is preferably integrally formed with the second portion and is provided with a number of ribs and/or a selective coating. A method of providing a selective coating and other methods of providing a frictional surface are described in PCT Application Number PCT/US94/09489 which is incorporated herein by reference. Another method of providing high and low friction portions would be to mask the low friction portion and sandblast the high friction portion. Alternatively, a mandrel which is used to make the balloon may have the high friction portion sandblasted.

[0034] The present invention provides distinct advantages over PCT Application Number PCT/US94/09489 since the radially-extending arms help prevent the high friction portions from contacting the blood vessel. A problem which might occur with the balloon of PCT/US94/09489 is that the balloon might unravel when the balloon is inserted into the patient thereby exposing the high friction portions. Conversely, if the balloon is wrapped too tight, the balloon may not open correctly when the balloon is inflated. The present invention provides high friction portions which are exposed but prevented from contacting the body passageway by the radially outward portion of the arms.

[0035] In another aspect of the invention, pressure sensors are provided on both sides of the balloon for measuring pressures exerted on the balloon. In this manner, it can be determined when a pressure differential exists across the expandable member which might move the balloon upstream or downstream. The pressure sensors are preferably coupled to an alarm which indicates when the pressure differential exceeds a predetermined threshold pressure. In a preferred embodiment, the pressure of cardioplegic fluid in the ascending aorta is adjusted to reduce the pressure differential to a value below the threshold pressure. The descriptive terms downstream and upstream refer to the direction of blood flow and the direction opposite normal blood flow, respectively. In the arterial system, downstream refers to the direction away from the heart and upstream refers to the direction toward to the heart. The terms proximal and distal, when used herein in relation to instruments used in the procedu...

Problems solved by technology

First, such isolation facilitates infusion of cardioplegic fluid into the coronary arteries to perfuse the myocardium and arrest cardiac function without allowing the cardioplegic fluid to be distributed elsewhere in the patient's circulatory system.

Second, such isolation facilitates use of a cardiopulmonary bypass system to maintain circulation of oxygenated blood throughout the circulatory s...

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