An intra-aortic balloon assembly has a balloon whose distal end terminates in a tip and whose proximal end is joined to and communicates with the interior of a catheter tube. A slender stylet extends rearwardly from the tip through the balloon and catheter tube. The balloon is arranged so that its longitudinal...http://www.google.com/patents/US4697573?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US4697573 - Percutaneous intra-aortic balloon and method for using same
