Abstract: An apparatus (1) for ex-vivo measurement of performance of a donor heart (2) has a heart holder (6) in a receptacle (7) for holding a human donor heart and a bag (17) for placement into a left ventricle of the heart. The bag has a bag interior space communicating with an interior space of a fluid tight, compressible and expandable container (19. The apparatus further includes a sensor (21) for measuring compression and expansion of the container. Using the apparatus cardiac outwit can be measured by measuring expansion and contraction of the container. A method for ex-vivo measurement of performance of a donor heart is also described. The method may include controlling the preload and/or the afterload.

Abstract: An intra-aortic balloon pumping device and a method of assembling an intra-aortic balloon pumping device. The device includes a catheter with a separated first and second lumen for driving a first balloon with a relatively large outer diameter and a second balloon with a smaller outer diameter than the aorta when inflated, as well as a single driver unit that is coupled to the first and second lumen for pumping a driving gas into and out from each individual lumen to inflate and deflate the first and second balloons in sequence. The ratio of cross-sectional area of each lumen and the balloon volumes are dimensioned in such way that the sequence is optimized. In one form, the second lumen is a short aperture, located only between adjacent chambers that are formed by the first and second balloons.