Heart wall tension reduction apparatus and method

• US 7,883,539 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2002
• Issued: 02/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences LLC (Edwards Lifesciences Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences LLC (Edwards Lifesciences Corporation)
• Inventors: Vidlund, Robert M., Mortier, Todd J., Schweich, Cyril J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Getzow; Scott M
• Application Number:
  US10/127,731
• Publication Number:
  US 20020161275A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,213 Days
• Field of Search: 600 16- 18, 600/37, 623/3.1, 623/11.11, 623/14.13, 623/909, 623/910, 623/922, 128/897, 128/898, 601/11
• US Class Current: 623/3.1
• 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

Abstract

Devices and methods for treatment of a failing heart by reducing the heart wall stress. The device can be one which reduces wall stress throughout the cardiac cycle or only a portion of the cardiac cycle.

Claims

1. A method for reducing wall tension on at least one chamber of the natural heart, comprising the steps of:

providing a geometric reconfiguration assembly;

encircling an external surface of the at least one of the chambers of the natural heart in an unrestrained position, with said geometric reconfiguration assembly; and

causing an inward displacement of at least one portion of the natural heart and preventing the natural heart from returning to the unrestrained position at end diastole, with said geometric reconfiguration assembly, wherein the geometric reconfiguration assembly includes a splint traversing the at least one of the chambers of the natural heart.