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Updated: May 3, 2026
The Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump
Published on: February 5, 2021
A novel coronary active perfusion system using a conventional intra-aortic balloon pump for off-pump coronary artery
Ryuta Kiuchi1, Shigeyuki Tomita1, Shojiro Yamaguchi1
1Department of General and Cardiothoracic Surgery, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan.
Insights
This study introduces a novel coronary active perfusion system, activated by helium gas volume changes via an intra-aortic balloon pump, to prevent myocardial ischemia during off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Biomedical Engineering
- Medical Devices
Background:
- Myocardial ischemia is a critical concern during off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG).
- Effective coronary perfusion systems are essential to maintain cardiac health during these procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a novel coronary active perfusion system.
- To determine the optimal configuration for a perfusion system activated by helium gas volume changes.
- To assess the system's efficacy in preventing myocardial ischemia during OPCABG.
Main Methods:
- A perfusion device was designed using a balloon within a syringe barrel, powered by a conventional intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP).
- Basic experiments determined optimal balloon volumes (80-mL outside, 3.0-mL inner) for maximum flow rate change.
- Animal experiments in pigs with induced coronary artery occlusion validated the system's hemodynamic and biochemical effects.
Main Results:
- The optimal configuration yielded the greatest flow rate change in basic experiments.
- The novel coronary active perfusion system successfully prevented myocardial ischemia in animal models during coronary occlusion.
Conclusions:
- The study identified the most suitable configuration for the new coronary active perfusion system.
- The system demonstrated consistent safety and efficacy in preventing myocardial ischemia during animal experiments.
- This innovative system holds potential for safer and easier OPCABG procedures in clinical practice.
Objective:
It is important for coronary active perfusion systems to avoid myocardial ischemia during off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. We have developed a new concept for a perfusion system to pump blood based on changes in helium gas volume. This system uses a conventional intra-aortic balloon pump to activate the perfusion pump. Our study used basic and animal experiments to investigate the most suitable system for coronary perfusion using this new concept.
Methods:
A conventional intra-aortic balloon pump was used to supply power. A device for perfusion was developed with a balloon placed inside a stiff syringe barrel. The device was connected to the helium gas line of the intra-aortic balloon pump. Changes in flow with changes in augmentation level were noted when volumes outside and within the balloon were changed. Six pigs with occlusion of the left anterior descending artery were used for system validation, with monitoring to identify changes in hemodynamics and cardiac enzyme levels.
Results:
In the basic experiment, an 80-mL outside volume and 3.0-mL inner volume resulted in the greatest percentage change in flow rate with respect to changes in augmentation. In the animal experiment, the new coronary active perfusion system prevented myocardial ischemia during coronary occlusion.
Conclusions:
We clarified the most suitable method for our new coronary active perfusion system. Using this system, safe anastomosis was consistently performed in animal experiments. Clinically, off-pump coronary artery bypass may potentially be performed more safely and easily using this new system.
