Stress reduction apparatus and method

• US 6,908,424 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2002
• Issued: 06/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences LLC (Edwards Lifesciences Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Myocor, Inc. (Edwards Lifesciences Corporation)
• Inventors: Vidlund, Robert M., Mortier, Todd J., Schweich, Cyril J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jastrzab, Jeffrey R.
• Application Number:
  US10/138,520
• Publication Number:
  US 20020173694A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,142 Days
• Field of Search: 600/16, 600/37, 623/3.11, 623/11.11, 623/904, 623/911, 623/913, 623/922, 128/898
• US Class Current: 600/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1227 Spring clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0404 Buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/048 for reducing heart wall tension, e.g. sutures with a pad on each extremity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2481 Devices outside the heart wall, e.g. bags, strips or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2487 Devices within the heart chamber, e.g. splints

Abstract

The device and method for reducing heart wall stress. The device can be one which reduces wall stress throughout the cardiac cycle or only a portion of the cardiac cycle. The device can be configured to begin to engage, to reduce wall stress during diastolic filling, or begin to engage to reduce wall stress during systolic contraction. Furthermore, the device can be configured to include at least two elements, one of which engages full cycle and the other which engages only during a portion of the cardiac cycle.

Claims

1. A method of treating a heart, the method comprising:

providing a member configured to encircle at least a portion of the heart;

positioning the member proximate the heart such that the member encircles at least the portion of the heart; and

via the member, passively exerting a compressive force on a portion of the heart proximate the member throughout the cardiac cycle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the member includes providing a mesh member.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the member includes providing a wrap.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the wrap includes a thread.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the thread encircles the heart a plurality of times.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the wrap is made of a mesh material.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the wrap extends in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction with respect to the heart.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the wrap extends in a vertical direction with respect to the heart so as to extend along a major portion of the heart from a base of the heart to an apex of the heart.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the member includes providing a member configured to extend in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction relative to the heart.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein providing the member includes providing a member having a band-like configuration.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising altering a shape of a heart chamber via the member.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein altering the shape of the heart chamber includes altering the shape of a left ventricle.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising limiting a size of a heart chamber via the member.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein limiting the size of the heart chamber includes limiting the size of a left ventricle.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising reducing a radius of curvature of a heart chamber via the member.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein reducing the radius of curvature of a chamber includes reducing the radius of curvature of a left ventricle.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising reducing a volume of a chamber of the heart via the member.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising limiting interference of the member with coronary vasculature.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the member includes providing a member made of a biocompatible material.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein passively exerting the compressive force on the portion of the heart includes passively exerting the compressive force on an exterior surface of a wall of the heart.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the member includes providing a member that extends along a major portion of the heart from a base of the heart to an apex of the heart.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting at least one of the size and radius of curvature of the member so as to passively exert the compressive force on the portion of the heart proximate the member throughout the cardiac cycle.

37. The device of claim 22, wherein the mesh, wrap-like member is configured to encircle more than one chamber of the heart.

38. The device of claim 22, wherein the mesh, wrap-like member is configured to contact an exterior myocardial surface of the heart when implanted relative to the heart.

24. A device for treating a heart, comprising:

a mesh, wrap-like member configured to be implanted proximate the heart, at least a portion of the member having a substantially circular shape so as to encircle at least a portion of the heart,

wherein the mesh, wrap-like member is sized so as to passively exert a compressive force throughout a cardiac cycle on a portion of the heart proximate the member when the member is implanted proximate the heart.

23. The methoc of claim 35, wherein the member is curved around at least the portion of the heart at least when implanted relative to the heart.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the mesh, wrap-like member extends in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction with respect to the heart when the mesh, wrap-like member is implanted proximate the heart.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the mesh, wrap-like member extends in a vertical direction with respect to the heart so as to extend along a major portion of the heart from a base of the heart to an apex of the heart when the mesh, wrap-like member is implanted proximate the heart.

27. The device of claim 24, wherein the mesh, wrap-like member is configured to alter a shape of a heart chamber of the heart.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the heart chamber is a left ventricle.

29. The device of claim 24, wherein the mesh, wrap-like member is configured to limit a size of a heart chamber of the heart.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein the heart chamber is a left ventricle.

31. The device of claim 24, wherein the mesh, wrap-like member is configured to reduce a radius of curvature of a heart chamber of the heart.

32. The device of claim 31, wherein the heart chamber is a left ventricle.

33. The device of claim 24, wherein the mesh, wrap-like member is configured to reduce a volume of a heart chamber of the heart.

34. The device of claim 24, wherein the mesh, wrap-like member is configured so as to limit interference with coronary vasculature when the mesh, wrap-like member is implanted proximate the heart.

35. The device of claim 24, wherein the mesh, wrap-like member is made of a biocompatible material.

36. The device claim 24, wherein the mesh, wrap-like member is sized so as to passively exert a compressive force on an exterior surface of a wall of the heart.