Cerebral perfusion augmentation
Methods are provided for partial aortic occlusion for cerebral perfusion augmentation in patients suffering from global or focal cerebral ischemia. The descending aorta is accessed. A device is then located downstream from the takeoff of the brachiocephalic artery. The device is operated to at least partially obstruct blood flow in the aorta during systole and diastole. A physiologic parameter can be measured. The device can then be adjusted to modify the degree of obstruction based on the measured physiologic parameter.
1 . A method for increasing cerebral blood flow, comprising the steps of:
advancing a catheter into the descending aorta, the catheter having a proximal region, a distal region, and an expandable member mounted on the distal region;
locating the expandable member in the aorta;
expanding and maintaining the expandable member to partially obstruct blood flow in the aorta during systole and diastole; and
measuring a physiologic parameter.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of adjusting the expansion of the expandable member based on the measured physiologic parameter.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the physiologic parameter is blood pressure.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the physiologic parameter is cerebral blood flow.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the expandable member is a balloon.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein blood flow to the cerebral vasculature increases by at least 20%.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the expandable member is located in the abdominal aorta.
8 . A method for increasing cerebral blood flow, comprising the steps of:
advancing a catheter into the descending aorta, the catheter having a proximal region, a distal region, and an expandable member mounted on the distal region;
locating the expandable member in the aorta;
expanding the expandable member to partially obstruct blood flow in the aorta without full occlusion during systole and diastole; and
measuring a physiologic parameter.
9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising the step of adjusting the expansion of the expandable member based on the measured physiologic parameter.
10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the physiologic parameter is blood pressure.
11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the physiologic parameter is cerebral blood flow.
12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the expandable member is a balloon.
13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein blood flow to the cerebral vasculature increases by at least 20%.
14 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the expandable member is located in the abdominal aorta.