Method and system for pericardial enhancement
First Claim
1. A method for treating a patient to inhibit remodeling of the heart, the method comprising modifying pericardial tissue within the heart'"'"'s pericardium under conditions to inhibit remodeling of the heart.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention modifies the pericardium to treat patients suffering from or at risk of heart failure of the type wherein constraining forces of the pericardium around the heart are inadequate to prevent remodeling of the heart. The pericardium is enhanced by restoring, increasing, or improving its ability to restrain the heart and prevent dilation of the chambers of the heart. Methods and apparatus are provided for stiffening, strengthening, tightening, reshaping, and/or shrinking the pericardium to enhance the restraining and supporting capability of the pericardium around the heart. Specific embodiments enhance the pericardium by heating the pericardial tissue using radiofrequency energy and the like, treating the pericardium with a chemical such as glutaraldehyde, plicating the pericardium, or some combination of the above.
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Citations
45 Claims
- 1. A method for treating a patient to inhibit remodeling of the heart, the method comprising modifying pericardial tissue within the heart'"'"'s pericardium under conditions to inhibit remodeling of the heart.
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31. A method for treating patients suffering from or at risk of heart failure, the method comprising:
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providing a device having a heating member;
placing the heating member in contact with or in close proximity to a pericardium of the heart; and
supplying energy to the heating member to cause heating of the pericardium under conditions and for a time selected to reduce or eliminate remodeling of the heart. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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- 38. In a method for treating patients suffering from or at risk of heart failure, of the type involving provision of constraint around the heart wherein constraining forces of a pericardium around the heart are inadequate to prevent remodeling of the heart, the improvement comprising modifying pericardial tissue of the pericardium in a manner sufficient to inhibit remodeling of the heart while retaining viability of the heart.
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43. A device for treating a pericardium of a heart, the device comprising:
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a heating member configured to be placed in contact with or in close proximity to the pericardium, the heating member including a fluid delivery port;
a source of energy coupled with the heating member for providing energy to the heating member to cause heating;
a fluid delivery line extending from the fluid delivery port;
a source of chemical communicating with the fluid delivery line for introducing the chemical through the fluid delivery port to the pericardium, the chemical being configured for stiffening the pericardium. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45)
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Specification