Abstract: A method and device for providing a timing signal to a medical device in response to light emitting indicators on a cardiac pacer. The device is optically coupled to the light emitting indicators, but is electrically isolated from the cardiac pacer. A timing signal is generated in response to activation of the light emitting indicators which indicate that an R wave was sensed or a ventricular pace signal was sent.

Abstract: A method of stopping bleeding around a catheter when an insertion sheath is removed is disclosed. This method involves using a novel tapered hemostatic device that can be moved along the catheter tube into the puncture site. The tapered hemostatic device of the present invention has an inner diameter that is just sufficient to permit the catheter tube to slide therethrough and a tapered outer diameter which at the distal end of the device is slightly larger than the inside diameter and at the proximal end of the device is at least as large as the outside diameter of the insertion sheath used to place the catheter in the blood vessel. The hemostatic device is moved down the catheter tube into the puncture site where the device stops the bleeding. Using a hemostasis cuff at the proximal end of the device to stop blood flow between the tapered hemostatic device of the invention and the catheter is also disclosed.The hemostatic device may contain a longitudinal channel along the wall of the device.

Abstract: Intra-aortic balloon apparatus is disclosed including a single chamber balloon sealably attached to the end of a catheter for non-surgical insertion into the aorta through the skin as by the standard Seldinger technique. In the preferred embodiment, the extreme end of the balloon is fixedly attached to one end of a separate substantially circumferentially rigid but longitudinally flexible tube open at both ends and disposed within and extending the length of the catheter. The opposite end of the tube remote from the balloon is fixedly attached to means for effecting rotation of the tube within the catheter and thereby result in controlled sequential wrapping and unwrapping of the balloon about the tube. In use, the balloon is pumped in conventional manner via the catheter and access through the tube is provided to the interior of the aorta at the extreme end of the balloon.