Abstract: A system and method for cardiac assist of a heart in a beating stage comprising a double balloon catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, the catheter having at least one lumen; an inflatable intra-ventricular balloon mounted on the catheter near the distal end of the catheter, the balloon having a lumen in fluid communication with the lumen of the catheter and being configured for inflation in a ventricle; and an intra-aortic balloon mounted on the catheter proximally to the intra-ventricular balloon; a control unit comprising a bidirectional pump; a fluid reservoir; and a processor configured to activate the pump; wherein the proximal end of the catheter is configured for attachment to the control unit to form a fluid conduction system in which fluid is configured to be pumped by the pump between the fluid reservoir and the intra-ventricular balloon and the intra-aortic balloon; and systolic augmentation comprising a new pressure wave which is generated when said balloon is inflated at the end of th

Abstract: A system and method for cardiac assist of a heart in a beating stage comprising a double balloon catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, the catheter having at least one lumen; an inflatable intra-ventricular balloon mounted on the catheter near the distal end of the catheter, the balloon having a lumen in fluid communication with the lumen of the catheter and being configured for inflation in a ventricle; and an intra-aortic balloon mounted on the catheter proximally to the intra-ventricular balloon; a control unit comprising a bidirectional pump; a fluid reservoir; and a processor configured to activate the pump; wherein the proximal end of the catheter is configured for attachment to the control unit to form a fluid conduction system in which fluid is configured to be pumped by the pump between the fluid reservoir and the intra-ventricular balloon and the intra-aortic balloon; and systolic augmentation comprising a new pressure wave which is generated when said balloon is inflated at the end of th

Abstract: A system and method for cardiac assist of a heart. The system comprises a catheter on which is mounted an inflatable balloon configured for inflation inside a ventricle. The system preferably includes a fluid pump and a processor configured to activate the pump to inflate the intra-ventricular balloon in the ventricle during a predetermined first phase of the cardiac cycle and to deflate the balloon during a predetermined second phase of the cardiac cycle. The predetermined first phase may be the end of the slow ejection phase corresponding to the ascending part of the T wave, and the predetermined second phase may begin at the peak of systolic augmentation resulting from inflation of the balloon which corresponds to the descending part of the T-wave. The method of the invention includes delivering the balloon to a ventricle of the heart and transiently inflating the balloon to achieve a predetermined intra-ventricular systolic pressure.

Abstract: A system and method for cardiac assist of a heart. The system comprises a catheter on which is mounted an inflatable balloon configured for inflation inside a ventricle. The system preferably includes a fluid pump and a processor configured to activate the pump to inflate the intra-ventricular balloon in the ventricle during a predetermined first phase of the cardiac cycle and to deflate the balloon during a predetermined second phase of the cardiac cycle. The predetermined first phase may be the end of the slow ejection phase corresponding to the ascending part of the T wave, and the predetermined second phase may begin at the peak of systolic augmentation resulting from inflation of the balloon which corresponds to the descending part of the T-wave.