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Heart wall actuation device for the natural heart

  • US 7,361,191 B2
  • Filed: 07/14/2003
  • Issued: 04/22/2008
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An actuation system for assisting the operation of the natural heart, the actuation system comprising:

  • a framework for interfacing with a natural heart;

    an actuator system coupled to the framework and configured to engage an exterior surface of the heart, the actuator system comprising;

    an actuator band extending along a portion of a heart wall exterior surface, the actuator band selectively movable between an actuated state and a relaxed state and operable, when in the actuated state, to assume a predetermined shape and thereby indent a portion of the heart wall to effect a reduction in the volume of the heart; and

    a plurality of curvature limiting devices including a plurality of curvature limiting bands coupled between the actuator band and the framework and operable for limiting the curvature that the actuator band imposes on the indented portion of the heart wall.

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