Leak detector for an intra-aortic balloon pump

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a leak detector for an intra-aortic balloon pump, which is capable of detecting a fluid leak from the balloon pump automatically.
It is another object of the present invention to provide the leak detector which is capable of evaluating the amount of leaked fluid.
In accomplishing the above and other objects, a leak detector is provided for an intra-aortic balloon pump which has a pressure source for pressurizing a primary fluid, a balloon filled with a secondary fluid and inflated thereby, and an isolating device which includes a diaphragm for defining a primary chamber and secondary chamber within the device.
The primary chamber is communicated with the pressure source and supplied with the primary fluid, and the secondary chamber is communicated with the balloon and filled with the secondary fluid.
The leak detector comprises means for detecting a relative position of the diaphragm against at least an inner surface of one of the primary chamber and secondary chamber, and means for determining a leak of the secondary fluid in response to the relative position of the diaphragm detected by the detecting means.
The detecting means may comprise a primary sensor for detecting a proximity of the diaphragm to the inner surface of the primary chamber, and a secondary sensor for detecting a proximity of the diaphragm to the inner surface of the secondary chamber.
Preferably, each of the primary and secondary sensors comprises a light emitting element and a photosensor for sensing the light emitted from the light emitting element, both disposed in the isolating device, and the diaphragm preferably includes means for blocking the light emitted from the light emitting element to the photosensor when the diaphragm is positioned proximate to the inner surface of the respective one of the chambers.