The research and clinical application for pulsatile catheter pump

Some patients with advanced heart failure did not respond sufficie ntly to pharmacological therapy and therefore need mechanical assist to survive. The intra-aortic balloon pump(IABP) is the most widely used short-term assist d evice with a good result, but its pumping capacity of 1-1.5L/min is sometime s too low to support a severely sick heart . However, most blood pumps that gene rate higher pulsatile pump flows require major surgery of thoracotomy and cannul ation. It may cause a new trauma for the acute ischemic heart failure. Thus its clinical application is limited . The pulsatile catheter pump(PUCA pump) is a ne w device between the IABP and the ventricular assist devices that generate high flows. It not only provides the direct left ventricle unloading effect, but also augments the aortic pressure which in turn increases the coronary flow. For th ese reasons, the PUCA pump may have a prosperous future.