Method and apparatus for catheter-based extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)

1. A method for performing transseptal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) on a patient, the method comprising:

advancing a first inner catheter that is distally tapered and a second inner catheter through a transseptal puncture, wherein the second inner catheter is coaxial with and surrounds the first inner catheter and an outer surface of the second inner catheter is flush with an outer surface of the first inner catheter;

deflecting the first inner catheter within the left atrium so that a distal tip of the first inner catheter is disposed substantially toward a mitral valve;

advancing the first inner catheter and the second inner catheter through the mitral valve;

deflecting the distal tip of the first inner catheter toward an aortic valve;

advancing the first inner catheter and the second inner catheter through the aortic valve so that a distal end of the second inner catheter is in an ascending aorta;

withdrawing the first inner catheter; and

receiving, from the patient, oxygen-poor blood through an outer catheter and returning oxygenated blood through the second inner catheter to the ascending aortic arch.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the outer catheter surrounds the second inner catheter.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising inflating a balloon disposed around a distal end of the first inner catheter to center the first inner catheter with respect to the mitral valve.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising deflating the balloon after advancing the first inner catheter and the second inner catheter through the mitral valve.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein deflecting the distal tip of the first inner catheter toward the aortic valve comprises deflecting the distal tip by more than 140 degrees with respect to a proximal section of the first inner catheter.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second inner catheter includes a plurality of holes disposed around a body of the second inner catheter to return the oxygenated blood.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the outer catheter includes a plurality of holes disposed around a body of the outer catheter to receive the oxygen-poor blood.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

inserting a first guidewire through the first inner catheter, the second inner catheter, and the outer catheter prior to deflecting the first inner catheter within the left atrium.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

withdrawing the first guidewire prior to deflecting the distal tip of the first inner catheter toward the aortic valve; and

inserting a second guidewire stiffer than the first guidewire, after withdrawing the first guidewire.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

puncturing a septum between the right atrium and the left atrium before advancing the first inner catheter and the second inner catheter through the transseptal puncture.

11. A method for performing transseptal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) on a patient, the method comprising:

advancing a first catheter that includes an inner sheath and an outer sheath through a transseptal puncture, wherein the outer sheath is coaxial with and surrounds the inner sheath and an outer surface of the outer sheath is flush with an outer surface of the inner sheath;

advancing a second catheter into a large peripheral vein or an inferior vena cava;

deflecting the inner sheath within the left atrium so that a distal tip of the inner sheath is disposed substantially toward a mitral valve;

advancing the inner sheath through the mitral valve;

deflecting the distal tip of the inner sheath toward an aortic valve;

advancing the first catheter through the aortic valve and into an ascending aorta;

withdrawing the inner sheath from the first catheter; and

receiving, from the patient, oxygen-poor blood through the second catheter and returning oxygenated blood through the first catheter into the ascending aorta.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising inflating a balloon disposed around a distal end of the inner sheath to center the inner sheath with respect to the mitral valve.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising deflating the balloon after advancing the inner sheath and the outer sheath through the mitral valve.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein deflecting the distal tip of the inner sheath toward an aortic valve comprises deflecting the distal tip by more than 140 degrees with respect to a proximal section of the inner sheath.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the second catheter includes a plurality of holes disposed around a body of the second catheter to return the oxygenated blood.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the outer sheath includes a plurality of holes disposed around a body of the outer sheath to receive the oxygen-poor blood.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

inserting a first guidewire through the inner sheath and the outer sheath prior to deflecting the inner sheath within the left atrium.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

withdrawing the first guidewire prior to deflecting the distal tip of the inner sheath toward the aortic valve; and

inserting a second guidewire stiffer than the first guidewire, after withdrawing the first guidewire.

19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

puncturing a septum between the right atrium and the left atrium before advancing the inner sheath and the outer sheath through the transseptal puncture.