DEVICES AND METHODS FOR ASSISTING CARDIAC FUNCTION

• US 20160279312A1
• Filed: 03/29/2016
• Published: 09/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CVDEVICES, LLC
• Original Assignee: CVDEVICES, LLC
• Inventors: Kassab, Ghassan S., Navia, Jose A. Sr.
• Granted Patent: US 10,117,984 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0057 Implements for plugging an opening in the wall of a hollow or tubular organ, e.g. for sealing a vessel puncture or closing a cardiac septal defect sutures A61B17/04; closing rectum or urethra near body surface A61F2/0009
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00247 Making holes in the wall of the heart, e.g. laser Myocardial revascularization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00584 Clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00592 Elastic or resilient implements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00601 Implements entirely comprised between the two sides of the opening
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00606 Implements H-shaped in cross-section, i.e. with occluders on both sides of the opening
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00628 T-shaped occluders
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/306 holding by means of suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/308 with suction cups
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00392 Transmyocardial revascularisation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/37 Surgical systems with images on a monitor during operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0036 with more than four lumina
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0039 characterized by lumina being arranged coaxially
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/004 characterized by lumina being arranged circumferentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0089 Single injection needle protruding axially, i.e. along the longitudinal axis of the catheter, from the distal tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0096 being laterally outward extensions or tools, e.g. hooks or fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/015 Details of the distal fixation of the movable mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0681 Systems with catheter and outer tubing, e.g. sheath, sleeve or guide tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/32 with radio-opaque indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/33 : Controlling, regulating or measuring
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3303 : Using a biosensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 : Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/122 : Pericardium
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/125 : Heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/005 : Parameter used as control input for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/00 : Catheters; Hollow probes dilators A61M29/00; peritoneal catheters A61M1/285; tracheal tubes A61M16/04; for drainage A61M27/00; for uterus, vagina or rectum A61M31/00 ; for measuring or testing A61B; materials for catheters A61L29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/003 : characterized by features relating to least one lumen located at the distal part of the catheter, e.g. filters, plugs or valves catheter tips A61M25/0067
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0054 : with regions for increasing flexibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0074 : Dynamic characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. openable, closable, expandable or deformable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0084 : being one or more injection needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0136 : Handles therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0141 : having flexible regions as a result of using materials with different mechanical properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0147 : with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/06 : Body-piercing guide needles or the like
• 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 60/289 : Devices for mechanical circulatory actuation assisting the residual heart function by means mechanically acting upon the patient's native heart or blood vessel structure, e.g. direct cardiac compression [DCC] devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/468 : the force acting on the actuation means being hydraulic or pneumatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/508 : Electronic control means, e.g. for feedback regulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/865 : Devices for guiding or inserting pumps or pumping devices into the patient's body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0587 : Epicardial electrode systems; Endocardial electrodes piercing the pericardium

Abstract

Devices and methods for assisting cardiac function. In an exemplary embodiment of a device for assisting heart function of the present disclosure, the device comprises a first plate and an opposing second plate, each plate having an inner surface, a cardiac processor coupled to at least one of the first plate and the second plate, a bladder having an inner chamber and disposed between the inner surfaces, and a first catheter having a proximal end in communication with the inner chamber of the bladder and a distal end having a first pericardial balloon coupled thereto, wherein a gas and/or a liquid within the inner chamber of the bladder can be injected into the first pericardial balloon upon compression of the first plate relative to the second plate, and wherein the gas and/or the liquid can be removed from the first pericardial balloon upon retraction of the first plate relative to the second plate.

Claims

1. A method of assisting heart function, the method comprising the steps of:

introducing at least part of a device for assisting heart function into a pericardial space surrounding a heart, the device comprising;

a source of a gas and/or a liquid, and

a first catheter having a proximal end in communication with the source of the gas and/or the liquid and a distal end having a first pericardial balloon coupled thereto;

operating the device to inject a gas and/or a liquid from the source of the gas and/or the liquid into the first pericardial balloon and to remove the gas and/or the liquid from the first pericardial balloon to assist heart function.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein when the first pericardial balloon is positioned within the pericardial space, the operating step is performed to inject the gas and/or the liquid into the first pericardial balloon, causing at least partial expansion of the first pericardial balloon, which causes pressure to be applied to a chamber of the heart to facilitate heart function, and the operating step is further performed to remove the gas and/or the liquid from the first pericardial balloon, causing at least partial deflation of the first pericardial balloon, which relieves pressure from the chamber of the heart.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises:

a second catheter having a proximal end in communication with a portion of the device and a distal end having a second pericardial balloon coupled thereto;

wherein the first pericardial balloon is configured to be positioned within the pericardial space at or near a first heart chamber, configured to exert pressure upon the first heart chamber when at least partially inflated, and configured to relieve pressure from the first heart chamber when at least partially deflated; and

wherein the second pericardial balloon is configured to be positioned within the pericardial space at or near a second heart chamber, configured to exert pressure upon the second heart chamber when at least partially inflated, and configured to relieve pressure from the second heart chamber when at least partially deflated.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein when the first pericardial balloon is positioned within the pericardial space at or near the first heart chamber and wherein when the second pericardial balloon is positioned within the pericardial space at or near the second heart chamber, the operating step is performed to alternatively:

(a) inject the gas and/or the liquid into the first pericardial balloon, causing at least partial expansion of the first pericardial balloon, which causes pressure to be applied to the first heart chamber, and to remove the gas and/or the liquid from the second pericardial balloon, causing at least partial deflation of the second pericardial balloon, which relieves pressure from the second heart chamber; and

(b) remove the gas and/or the liquid from the first pericardial balloon, causing at least partial deflation of the first pericardial balloon, which relieves pressure from the first heart chamber, and to inject the gas and/or the liquid into the second pericardial balloon, causing at least partial expansion of the second pericardial balloon, which causes pressure to be applied to the second heart chamber.