Cardiac sleeve apparatus, system and method of use

• US 20070049789A1
• Filed: 08/29/2005
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Abrams, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,524,282 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2481 Devices outside the heart wall, e.g. bags, strips or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3629 in combination with non-electric therapy

Abstract

Cardiac assist sleeve and methods for using and making the cardiac assist sleeve that includes first elongate strips and second elongate strips of memory alloy that change shape to change a volume of cardiac assist sleeve.

Claims

1. A cardiac assist sleeve, comprising:

first elongate strips of a first shape-memory alloy that extend substantially in a first direction; and

second elongate strips of a second shape-memory alloy that intersect and pass the first elongate strips in a second direction, the first elongate strips and the second elongate strips define a volume that changes as at least one of the first elongate strips and the second elongate strips reversibly change shape.

2. The cardiac assist sleeve of claim 1, where the first elongate strips include a cross-sectional shape across the first direction that reversibly changes between a linear cross-sectional shape and a curved cross-sectional shape to change the volume of the cardiac assist sleeve.

3. The cardiac assist sleeve of claim 1, where the second elongate strips include a cross-sectional shape taken along the second direction that reversibly changes between a linear cross-sectional shape and a non-linear cross-sectional shape to change the volume of the cardiac assist sleeve.

4. The cardiac assist sleeve of claim 3, where the first elongate strips include a cross-sectional shape across the first direction that reversibly changes between a linear cross-sectional shape and a curved cross-sectional shape to change the volume of the cardiac assist sleeve.

5. The cardiac assist sleeve of claim 4, where the first elongate strips and the second elongate strips change cross-sectional shape when an electrical potential is placed across the first shape-memory alloy and the second shape-memory alloy.

6. The cardiac assist sleeve of claim 1, where each of the first elongate strips includes a first end and a second end, the first end of the first elongate strips join at a collar.

7. The cardiac assist sleeve of claim 6, where the second end of the first elongate strips join at a common location.

8. The cardiac assist sleeve of claim 1, where the first elongate strips include a cladding of the first shape-memory alloy and a third shape-memory alloy, the first shape-memory alloy and the third shape-memory alloy each having at least one layer that extends in the first direction.

9. The cardiac assist sleeve of claim 8, where the first elongate strips include a cross-sectional shape across the first direction that reversibly changes from a linear cross-sectional shape to a curved cross-sectional shape when an electrical potential is placed across the first shape-memory alloy to change the volume of the cardiac assist sleeve and to impart potential energy in the third shape-memory alloy.

10. The cardiac assist sleeve of claim 9, where the third shape-memory alloy releases the potential energy to return the first elongate strips toward the linear cross-sectional shape.

11. The cardiac assist sleeve of claim 9, where the first elongate strips include an electrically insulating layer between the first shape-memory alloy and the third shape-memory alloy.

12. The cardiac assist sleeve of claim 1, where the second elongate strips include a cladding of the first shape-memory alloy and a third shape-memory alloy, the first shape-memory alloy and the third shape-memory alloy each having at least one layer that extends in the second direction.

13. The cardiac assist sleeve of claim 12, where the second elongate strips include a cross-sectional shape across the second direction that reversibly changes between a linear cross-sectional shape and a non-linear cross-sectional shape when an electrical potential is placed across the first shape-memory alloy to change the volume of the cardiac assist sleeve and to impart potential energy in the third shape-memory alloy.

14. The cardiac assist sleeve of claim 13, where the third shape-memory alloy releases the potential energy to return the first elongate strips toward the linear cross-sectional shape.

15. The cardiac assist sleeve of claim 13, where the first elongate strips include an electrically insulating layer between the first shape-memory alloy and the third shape-memory alloy.

16. The cardiac assist sleeve of claim 1, where the first elongate strips and the second elongate strips have a thickness between a first surface and a second surface of 10 to 200 microns.

17. The cardiac assist sleeve of claim 1, where the first elongate strips are radially symmetrical around an axis extending in the first direction.

18. A method of forming a cardiac assist sleeve, comprising:

arranging first elongate strips of a first shape-memory alloy in substantially a first direction;

arranging second elongate strips of a second shape-memory alloy to intersect and pass the first elongate strips in a second direction; and

securing a first end of the first elongate strips around a collar.

19. The method of claim 18, including forming the first elongate strips and the second elongate strips in a sputter coating operation.

20. The method of claim 19, including cladding a third shape memory alloy to the first elongate strips and the second elongate strips.

21. The method of claim 20, including depositing an electrically insulating layer between the first shape-memory alloy and the third shape-memory alloy.

22. The method of claim 18, including imparting a first shape into the first shape-memory alloy of the first elongate strips.

23. The method of claim 18, including imparting a second shape into the second shape-memory alloy of the second elongate strips.

24. The method of claim 18, including joining a second end of the first elongate strips at a common location.

25. The method of claim 18, where arranging the second elongate strips to intersect and pass the first elongate strips includes weaving the first elongate strips and the second elongate strips.

26. A method of using a cardiac assistance device, comprising:

positioning a cardiac assist sleeve adjacent a left ventricle of a heart, where the cardiac assist sleeve includes;

first elongate strips of a first shape-memory alloy that extend substantially in a first direction; and

second elongate strips of a second shape-memory alloy that intersect and pass the first elongate strips in a second direction, the first elongate strips and the second elongate strips define a volume to receive the left ventricle of the heart;

securing a portion of the cardiac assist sleeve to the heart; and

assisting the left ventricle of the heart by reversible changes in the shape of at least one of the first elongate strips and the second elongate strips to change the volume of the cardiac assist sleeve.

27. The method of claim 26, where assisting the left ventricle includes producing reversible changes in the shape of at least one of the first elongate strips and the second elongate strips to change the volume of the cardiac assist sleeve.

28. The method of claim 27, where producing reversible changes in the shape includes applying an electrical potential across the first shape-memory alloy and the second shape-memory alloy to produce the changes in the shape.

29. The method of claim 28, where applying the electrical potential is synchronized with predetermined portions of a contraction cycle of the heart.

30. The method of claim 26, where securing a portion of the cardiac assist sleeve to the heart includes wrapping the cardiac assist sleeve around at least a portion of the heart, where at least a portion of the cardiac assist sleeve freely overlaps adjacent the portion of the cardiac assist sleeve secured to the heart.