Antegrade Hemodynamic Support via Venous Access

The patent inverts the traditional approach by accessing the arterial system through veins (venous access) rather than through arteries (arterial access). The catheter is introduced into a vein, advanced through the right heart chambers, across the mitral valve, and into the left ventricular outflow tract to reach the aorta. This inversion allows adequate blood flow capacity through large bore venous access while avoiding the high complication rates associated with arterial puncture and large bore arterial catheterization.

The patent uses venous access (accessing veins rather than arteries) to achieve arterial hemodynamic support. This allows the catheter to be introduced through peripheral veins such as the femoral vein or internal jugular vein, which are more accessible and less restrictive to patient mobility compared to large bore arterial access sites in the groin. The inverted approach maintains adequate blood flow capacity while improving ease of patient care and mobility.

The patent circumvents the harmful effects of peripheral artery disease by inverting the access route. Instead of attempting to access the arterial system through diseased peripheral arteries, the catheter is introduced through veins (which are typically not affected by peripheral artery disease) and navigated through the heart to reach the aorta. This inversion eliminates the barrier posed by peripheral vascular disease and improves access success rate in this patient population.

The patent inverts the flow direction by using antegrade flow (flow in the direction of normal blood flow) rather than retrograde flow. The catheter is positioned in the aorta with the pump delivering blood in the antegrade direction, which provides coaxial blood flow to the head and coronary arteries. This inversion of flow direction improves ease of operation by naturally directing blood flow to critical areas without requiring complex catheter positioning or flow management.