Apparatus and methods for cardiac restraint
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for using the apparatus are disclosed for cardiac restraint. More specifically, the apparatus and methods are directed to accessing the pericardium, accessing the heart within the pericardium, and restraining the heart by at least partially enclosing the heart with the apparatus. An embodiment of a cardiac restraint apparatus according to the present invention comprises a jacket, the jacket having a rim which defines an opening for receiving a heart. The apparatus also comprises a knot pusher that has a hollow elongate body, as well as a strand that extends around the rim of the jacket and is tied into a slipknot. The strand is positioned such that at least one end portion of the strand extends through the knot pusher such that a distal end of the knot pusher can be moved into engagement with the slipknot, whereby pulling the end portion of the strand away from the heart while pushing the knot pusher against the slipknot and reducing the diameter of the opening defined by the rim. In addition, the apparatus comprises one or more guide elements that are attached to the jacket.
177 Citations
20 Claims
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1-7. -7. (canceled)
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8. A method for positioning a cardiac restraint apparatus about the heart, the method comprising the steps of:
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forming a surgical incision as an entry port for the cardiac restraint apparatus;
introducing a cutting tool through the incision for forming an opening in the pericardium to pass the cardiac restraint apparatus therethrough;
advancing the cardiac restraint apparatus through the incision and the opening into engagement with the heart; and
positioning the cardiac restraint apparatus about at least a portion of the heart. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. Cardiac restraint apparatus for constraining installation about the heart of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
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a flexible jacket having a rim, defining an opening for receiving a heart therein;
at least one element attached to the rim of sufficient length to extend outside the body of a patient to facilitate remote manipulation of the jacket into position about the heart of the patient from outside the patient'"'"'s body; and
a sheath enclosing the jacket in confined configuration and including a confining wall having a path thereon of diminished shear strength to facilitate tearing of the confining wall along the path for selectively releasing the jacket from the confining configuration within the sheath. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification