Heart wall actuation device for the natural heart
First Claim
1. An actuation system for assisting the operation of the natural heart, the actuation system comprising:
- a framework for interfacing with a natural heart;
an actuator system coupled to the framework and configured to engage an exterior surface of the heart, the actuator system comprising;
an actuator band extending along a portion of a heart wall exterior surface, the actuator band selectively movable between an actuated state and a relaxed state and operable, when in the actuated state, to assume a predetermined shape and thereby indent a portion of the heart wall to effect a reduction in the volume of the heart; and
a curvature limiting device coupled to the actuator band and operable for limiting the curvature that the actuator band imposes on the indented portion of the heart wall.
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Abstract
An actuation system for assisting the operation of the natural heart comprises a framework for interfacing with a natural heart, through the wall of the heart, which includes an internal framework element configured to be positioned within the interior volume of a heart and an external framework element configured to be positioned proximate an exterior surface of the heart. The internal framework is flexibly suspended with respect to the external frame. An actuator system is coupled to the framework and configured to engage an exterior surface of the heart. The actuator system comprises an actuator band extending along a portion of a heart wall exterior surface. The actuator band is selectively movable between an actuated state and a relaxed state and is operable, when in the actuated state, to assume a predetermined shape and thereby indent a portion of the heart wall to effect a reduction in the volume of the heart. A drive apparatus is coupled to the actuator band and is operable for selectively moving the actuator band between the relaxed and actuated states to achieve the desired assistance of the natural heart.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An actuation system for assisting the operation of the natural heart, the actuation system comprising:
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a framework for interfacing with a natural heart;
an actuator system coupled to the framework and configured to engage an exterior surface of the heart, the actuator system comprising;
an actuator band extending along a portion of a heart wall exterior surface, the actuator band selectively movable between an actuated state and a relaxed state and operable, when in the actuated state, to assume a predetermined shape and thereby indent a portion of the heart wall to effect a reduction in the volume of the heart; and
a curvature limiting device coupled to the actuator band and operable for limiting the curvature that the actuator band imposes on the indented portion of the heart wall. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18)
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17. An actuation system for assisting the operation of the natural heart, the actuation system comprising:
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a framework for interfacing with a natural heart;
an actuator system coupled to the framework and configured to engage an exterior surface of the heart, the actuator system comprising;
an actuator band extending along a portion of a heart wall exterior surface, the actuator band selectively movable between an actuated state and a relaxed state and operable, when in the actuated state, to assume a predetermined shape and thereby indent a portion of the heart wall to effect a reduction in the volume of the heart; and
a paving element coupled between the actuator band and the heart wall for providing smooth functioning of the band with the heart wall.
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19. The actuation system wherein the paving element includes a mesh.
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20. The actuation system wherein the paving element includes a fabric.
Specification