CARDIAC SLEEVE APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE

• US 20090187064A1
• Filed: 03/31/2009
• Published: 07/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Abrams, Robert M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,871,369 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2481 Devices outside the heart wall, e.g. bags, strips or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3629 in combination with non-electric therapy

Abstract

Cardiac assist sleeve and methods for using and making the cardiac assist sleeve that includes first elongate strips and second elongate strips of memory alloy that change shape to change a volume of cardiac assist sleeve.

Claims

1. A method of forming a cardiac assist sleeve, comprising:

arranging first elongate strips of a first shape-memory alloy, the first elongate strips having a cross-sectional shape taken perpendicularly across a lengthwise line of symmetry;

arranging second elongate strips of a second shape-memory alloy to intersect and pass the first elongate strips, where the first elongate strips and the second elongate strips define a volume that changes as the cross-sectional shape of the first elongate strips reversibly change between a first cross-sectional shape having flat surfaces and a second cross-sectional shape having one convex surface and one concave surface opposite the convex surface to change the volume of the cardiac assist sleeve; and

securing a first end of the first elongate strips around a collar.

2. The method of claim 1, including forming the first elongate strips and the second elongate strips in a sputter coating operation.

3. The method of claim 2, including cladding a third shape memory alloy to the first elongate strips and the second elongate strips.

4. The method of claim 3, including depositing an electrically insulating layer between the first shape-memory alloy and the third shape-memory alloy.

5. The method of claim 1, including imparting a first shape into the first shape-memory alloy of the first elongate strips.

6. The method of claim 1, including imparting a second shape into the second shape-memory alloy of the second elongate strips.

7. The method of claim 1, including joining a second end of the first elongate strips at a common location.

8. The method of claim 1, where arranging the second elongate strips to intersect and pass the first elongate strips includes weaving the first elongate strips and the second elongate strips.

9. A method of using a cardiac assistance device, comprising:

positioning a cardiac assist sleeve adjacent a left ventricle of a heart, where the cardiac assist sleeve includes;

first elongate strips of a first shape-memory alloy, the first elongate strips having a cross-sectional shape taken perpendicularly across a lengthwise line of symmetry; and

second elongate strips of a second shape-memory alloy that intersect and pass the first elongate strips, the first elongate strips and the second elongate strips define a volume to receive the left ventricle of the heart;

securing a portion of the cardiac assist sleeve to the heart; and

assisting the left ventricle of the heart by reversibly changing the cross-sectional shape of at least one of the first elongate strips between a first cross-sectional shape having perpendicular sides and a second cross-sectional shape having one convex surface and on concave surface opposite the convex surface to change the volume of the cardiac assist sleeve.

10. The method of claim 9, where producing reversible changes in the shape includes applying an electrical potential across the first shape-memory alloy and the second shape-memory alloy to produce the changes in the shape.

11. The method of claim 10, where applying the electrical potential is synchronized with predetermined portions of a contraction cycle of the heart.

12. The method of claim 9, where securing a portion of the cardiac assist sleeve to the heart includes wrapping the cardiac assist sleeve around at least a portion of the heart, where at least a portion of the cardiac assist sleeve freely overlaps adjacent the portion of the cardiac assist sleeve secured to the heart.