Cardiac harness assembly for treating congestive heart failure and for pacing/sensing

• US 20070106336A1
• Filed: 09/01/2006
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Paracor Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Paracor Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Schaer, Alan, Mar, Craig, Lau, Lilip, Fishler, Matthew, Truong, Anh
• Application Number:
  US11/515,226
• Publication Number:
  US 20070106336A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2481 Devices outside the heart wall, e.g. bags, strips or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2484 Delivery devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0597 Surface area electrodes, e.g. cardiac harness
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3627 for treating a mechanical deficiency of the heart, e.g. congestive heart failure or cardiomyopathy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3756 Casings with electrodes thereon, e.g. leadless stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3962 in combination with another heart therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/39622 Pacing therapy

Abstract

A pace/sense electrode is associated with a cardiac harness for treating the heart. The pace/sense electrode is positioned on the epicardial surface of the heart, preferably under the cardiac harness, to provide pacing and sensing therapy to the heart. Compressive forces from the cardiac harness serve to hold the pace/sense electrode in place and to push the electrode into direct contact with the epicardial surface of the heart. Various means are provided for placing the pace/sense electrode under the cardiac harness in a minimally invasive procedure.

Claims

1. An adapter for retaining a pace/sense electrode, comprising:

a housing having at least one cavity corresponding to the shape of a pace/sense electrode; and

the housing being formed from a dielectric material.

2. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the cavity is sized so that when the pace/sense electrode is pressed into the cavity there is an interference fit between the pace/sense electrode and cavity.

3. The adapter of claim 2, wherein the pace/sense electrode is attached to the adapter by a fastener.

4. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the cavity has a size and shape corresponding to the size and shape of the pace/sense electrode.

5. The adapter of claim 4, wherein the pace/sense electrode is attached to the adapter by a fastener.

6. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the adapter is a unitary structure.

7. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the adapter has a clam shell configuration.

8. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the adapter has a first portion and a second portion.

9. The adapter of claim 8, wherein the first portion is a mirror image of the second portion and the cavity is formed when the first portion is attached to the second portion.

10. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the cavity has first apertures for receiving electrodes on the pace/sense electrodes.