Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
VENTRICULAR UNLOADING SYSTEM

Abstract:

A system and method of unloading a heart chamber is described. The chamber can be a ventricle and the system can unload the ventricle during or after a heart attack. The ventricular unloading system includes a transthoracic needle insertable into the ventricle, a vascular access cannula insertable into a blood vessel, and a pump to move blood from the ventricle to the blood vessel through the transthoracic needle and the vascular access cannula. The ventricular unloading system can be used by an emergency medical technician in a non-hospital setting. Accordingly, the ventricular unloading system can provide early protection against infarct to improve clinical outcomes for a patient. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.