External stress reduction device and method

• US 20020169358A1
• Filed: 05/02/2002
• Published: 11/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences LLC (Edwards Lifesciences Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Myocor, Inc. (Edwards Lifesciences Corporation)
• Inventors: Vidlund, Robert M., Keith, Peter T., Mortier, Todd J., Schweich, Cyril J. Jr., Kusz, David A., Paulson, Thomas M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,808,488 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1227 Spring clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0404 Buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/048 for reducing heart wall tension, e.g. sutures with a pad on each extremity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2481 Devices outside the heart wall, e.g. bags, strips or bands
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/904 Heart

Abstract

An external heart wall stress reduction apparatus is provided to create a heart wall shape change. The device is generally disposed to the exterior of a heart chamber to reshape the chamber into a lower stress configuration.

Claims

1. A method for reducing heart wall stress in a heart chamber, comprising the steps of:

providing a device having a first heart engaging surface, a second heart engaging surface and a member interconnecting the surfaces; and

placing the first and second surfaces on the wall of the chamber to deflect the heart wall proximate at least one of the heart engaging surfaces, while the interconnecting member is disposed externally of the heart.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the deflection appears concave from outside the chamber.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the deflection results in a inflection point along, the wall of the heart.

4. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first heart engaging surface includes a balloon.

5. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first heart engaging surface includes an elongate pad.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of attaching the device to a bone.

7. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the surface is porous to allow tissue ingrowth.

8. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of adjusting the distance between the surfaces.

9. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the member is malleable.

10. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the member is cast in place on the heart.