DEVICES AND METHODS FOR ASSISTING HEART FUNCTION
First Claim
1. A device for assisting heart function, comprising:
- at least two electromagnetic plates, the at least two electromagnetic plates having an inner surface;
a cardiac processor electrically coupled to at least one of the at least two electromagnetic plates;
a bladder having an inner chamber, the bladder attached to an inner surface of at least one of the at least two electromagnetic plates;
a source of gas in communication with the inner chamber of the bladder; and
at least one catheter having a proximal end and a distal end and having a lumen therethrough, the at least one catheter defining at least one aperture positioned therethrough at or near the distal end of the at least one catheter and comprising a pericardial balloon coupled to the at least one catheter at or near the distal end of the at least one catheter, the proximal end of the at least one catheter in communication with the inner chamber of the bladder.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and methods for assisting heart function. In at least one embodiment of a device for assisting heart function, the device comprises at least two electromagnetic plates having an inner surface, a cardiac processor electrically coupled to at least one of the at least two electromagnetic plates, a bladder having an inner chamber, the bladder attached to an inner surface of at least one of the at least two electromagnetic plates, a source of gas in communication with the inner chamber of the bladder, and at least one catheter having a proximal end and a distal end and having a lumen therethrough, the at least one catheter defining at least one aperture positioned therethrough at or near the distal end of the at least one catheter and comprising a pericardial balloon coupled to the at least one catheter at or near the distal end of the at least one catheter, the proximal end of the at least one catheter in communication with the inner chamber of the bladder.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A device for assisting heart function, comprising:
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at least two electromagnetic plates, the at least two electromagnetic plates having an inner surface; a cardiac processor electrically coupled to at least one of the at least two electromagnetic plates; a bladder having an inner chamber, the bladder attached to an inner surface of at least one of the at least two electromagnetic plates; a source of gas in communication with the inner chamber of the bladder; and at least one catheter having a proximal end and a distal end and having a lumen therethrough, the at least one catheter defining at least one aperture positioned therethrough at or near the distal end of the at least one catheter and comprising a pericardial balloon coupled to the at least one catheter at or near the distal end of the at least one catheter, the proximal end of the at least one catheter in communication with the inner chamber of the bladder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A device for assisting heart function, comprising:
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at least two electromagnetic plates, the at least two electromagnetic plates having an inner surface; a cardiac processor electrically coupled to at least one of the at least two electromagnetic plates; a bladder having an inner chamber, the bladder attached to an inner surface of at least one of the at least two electromagnetic plates; a source of gas in communication with the inner chamber of the bladder; and at least one catheter having a proximal end and a distal end and having a lumen therethrough, the at least one catheter defining at least one aperture positioned therethrough at or near the distal end of the at least one catheter and comprising a pericardial balloon coupled to the at least one catheter at or near the distal end of the at least one catheter, the proximal end of the at least one catheter in communication with the inner chamber of the bladder; wherein the at least two electromagnetic plates are operable to compress the bladder to inject gas into the pericardial balloon to inflate the pericardial balloon; and wherein the at least two electromagnetic plates are further operable to expand the bladder to remove gas from the pericardial balloon to deflate the pericardial balloon.
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19. A method of assisting heart function, the method comprising the steps of:
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introducing a device for assisting heart function into a mammalian body, the device comprising; at least two electromagnetic plates, the at least two electromagnetic plates having an inner surface, a cardiac processor electrically coupled to at least one of the at least two electromagnetic plates, a bladder having an inner chamber, the bladder attached to an inner surface of at least one of the at least two electromagnetic plates, a source of gas in communication with the inner chamber of the bladder, and at least one catheter having a proximal end and a distal end and having a lumen therethrough, the at least one catheter defining at least one aperture positioned therethrough at or near the distal end of the at least one catheter and comprising a pericardial balloon coupled to the at least one catheter at or near the distal end of the at least one catheter, the proximal end of the at least one catheter in communication with the inner chamber of the bladder, wherein the distal end of the at least one catheter is positioned within a pericardial space of the mammalian body; and operating the device to inject gas into and/or remove gas from the pericardial balloon to assist heart function. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 39, 30, 31)
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Specification