Intra-aortic balloon pump condensation prevention system

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to produce an improved IABP condensation prevention system, using Nafion tubing as an agent to reduce the concentration of water vapor in the shuttle gas to levels which prevent condensation from forming, which overcomes the numerous above mentioned drawbacks of the prior art condensation prevention systems.
It is another object of the invention to produce a condensate prevention system which consumes less helium.
It is yet another object of the invention to produce a condensate prevention system which does not require an interruption of therapy to empty a sump.
It is a further object of the invention to produce a condensate prevention system with a considerably lower power consumption.
It is a still further object of the invention to produce a condensate prevention system with minimum parasitic dead volume space and with a dead volume location which has a minimum effect on the inflate and deflate speed of the intra-aortic balloon.
It is still yet another object of the invention to produce a condensate prevention system which does not have to be disassembled and placed if blood enters the IAB.
It is still a further object of the invention to produce a condensate prevention system which is not orientationaly sensitive, i.
e.
which does not rely on gravity.
The invention is an intra-aortic balloon pump condensation prevention system comprising a water vapor extracting element.
In one embodiment, the water vapor extracting element may comprise a Nafion tube.
Said Nafion tube absorbs water vapor in the intra-aortic balloon catheter shuttle gas.
The water is then extracted from the Nafion tube by means of a vacuum supply or a dry purge gas.
In another embodiment, the water vapor extracting element may comprise a cooled coiled section of tubing.
Water vapor which condenses in said coiled section of tubing migrates towards a sump.
To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings