Abstract: An apparatus and method of temporarily replacing the function of the left ventricle in a patient whose heart is severely injured and is unable to maintain a systemic arterial pressure adequate to support the inside walls of patient's aorta, the method comprising a removable pressurizable support means having an external profile which is expandable to fit firmly against the inside wall of the aorta of a patient, wherein the external profile of the pressurizable support means presents a central opening that allows blood to flow through the aorta. The pressurizable support means can both support and expand the aorta under low blood pressure to assist the drawing of blood from the left ventricle. The central opening also allows for the placement of a blood flow control means. The blood flow control means can comprise a pumping balloon and a proximal blocking balloon, the two members pressurized and depressurized in opposition within the aorta of a patient to simulate systole and diastole of a healthy heart.

Abstract: A method for treating medical patients suffering from cardiac trauma by co-administering pyruvate with a .beta.-adrenergic agonist. This method for treating cardiac trauma, such as ischemic reperfusion injury and heart failure, augments the inotropic effects of .beta.-adrenergic agents. Typical .beta.-adrenergic agonists are epinephrine, norepinephrine, dobutamine, and isoproterenol. The amount of .beta.-adrenergic agonist necessary to achieve a 50 percent increase of cardiac power is diminished five-fold when co-administered with pyruvate. Since high concentrations of agonists have many detrimental and hazardous side effects in patients, this invention would have important applications in the treatment of patients with cardiac trauma such as ischemia reperfusion injury.

Abstract: An intra-aortic balloon assist device is used to increase blood flow to the coronary arteries of an injured heart. The device comprises an expandable member that is placed within the ascending aorta of the patient, coupled to a flexible tube made of standard catheter material. The flexible tube is coupled to a blood flow control means within the descending portion of the patient's aorta. When operating, the blood flow control means pumps a surge of oxygenated blood through the flexible tube and expandable member into the area around the ascending portion of the aorta. The expandable member is operated in successive stages. The first stage is a collapsed stage, which is a completely depressurized stage of the member. In the second, blocking stage, the member blocks off the aorta to create a closed volume around the ascending portion of the aorta.

Abstract: Antithrombotic agents having reactional functional groups are reacted with a base polymer also having reactive functional groups to form a surface coating for a medical material. The medical materials are used in medical devices in contact with blood or blood products such as artificial hearts, heart lung machines, pacemakers, vascular graft tubing, intra-aortic balloons, blood bags, soft or hard tissue prostheses, catheters, sutures, artificial organs, and the like.

Abstract: A device and method are shown for improving coronary blood circulation and cardiac contractile function, synchronizing coronary perfusion pressure with the patient's cardiac cycle, by alternately pressurizing and depressurizing an inflatable balloon located within the interior of the device. The device comprises a catheter having a distal end which is installed at the ostium of the coronary artery of a patient. The device is alternately pressurized during the relaxation phase of a patient's cardiac cycle and then depressurized during the contraction phase of the cardiac cycle to thereby modulate the coronary perfusion pressure and blood flow.