Self-sizing cardiac harness for treating congestive heart failure

• US 7,189,202 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2003
• Issued: 03/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Paracor Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Paracor Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Lau, Lilip, Hartigan, Bill
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilbert; Samuel G.
• Application Number:
  US10/693,577
• Publication Number:
  US 20040106848A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,237 Days
• Field of Search: 600 16- 18, 600/37, 128/897, 128/898, 661/93, 661/95, 662/02, 623/1, 623/13, 601/153, 604/49, 606/193, 606/195, 606/202, 606/204
• 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: A61F 2002/0072 Delivery tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2484 Delivery devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0266 Shape memory materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/33 Controlling, regulating or measuring
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3303 Using a biosensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8243 by induction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/148 in line with a blood vessel using resection or like techniques, e.g. permanent endovascular heart assist devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/191 mechanically acting upon the outside of the patient's native heart, e.g. compressive structures placed around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/438 the force acting on the blood contacting member being mechanical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/873 specially adapted for wireless or transcutaneous energy transfer [TET], e.g. inductive charging
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/882 Devices powered by the patient, e.g. skeletal muscle powered devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0587 Epicardial electrode systems; Endocardial electrodes piercing the pericardium
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3627 for treating a mechanical deficiency of the heart, e.g. congestive heart failure or cardiomyopathy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49995 Shaping one-piece blank by removing material

Abstract

A cardiac harness for treating congestive heart failure is disclosed. The harness applies elastic, compressive reinforcement on the left ventricle to reduce deleterious wall tension and to resist shape change of the ventricle during the mechanical cardiac cycle. Rather than imposing a dimension beyond which the heart cannot expand, the harness provides no hard limit over the range of diastolic expansion of the ventricle. Instead, the harness follows the contour of the heart throughout diastole and continuously exerts gentle resistance to stretch. Also disclosed is a method of delivering the cardiac harness to the heart minimally invasively.

Claims

1. A medical device to treat the heart, comprising:

a plurality of non-overlapping spring elements formed from nitinol and adapted to impart a continuous compressive force that does not exceed 10 mm Hg on an outer surface of the heart during diastole and systole; and

the spring elements being configured to be delivered minimally invasively.

2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the spring elements are self-sizing.

3. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the spring elements are self-tensioning.

4. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the spring elements have a compliance that increases as a function of increased stretch.

5. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the spring elements have a compliance that does not decrease as a function of increased stretch.

6. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the spring elements are formed into strips.

7. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the spring elements are formed into strips that are compressible to a low profile, minimally invasive delivery diameter.

8. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the spring elements are elastic and have a deformed shape and a recovered shape when a load is applied and removed respectively.

9. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the spring elements are compressible to a delivery diameter no greater than minimally invasive access between the patient'"'"'s ribs.

10. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the spring elements are compressible to a delivery diameter no greater than minimally invasive access subcostally.

11. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the spring elements are compressible to a delivery diameter no greater than minimally invasive access percutaneously through the skin.