Cardiac compression device having passive and active chambers

A method to improve diastolic recoil of a heart using a direct cardiac contact compression device comprising the steps of:

• providing a direct cardiac compression device, wherein the direct cardiac compression device comprises an inner passive chambers, and a passive port for depositing a passive fluid in the inner passive chambers, wherein the inner passive chambers conform to the end-diastolic shape of the heart;
• an outer active chambers, and an active fluid disposed in the outer active chambers;
• an input connection in fluid communication with the outer active chambers to ingress the active fluid into the outer active chambers, and an output connection in fluid communication with the outer active chambers to egress the fluid from the outer active chambers, wherein the active fluid presses on the inner passive chambers to compress the heart;
• implanting the direct cardiac compression device around a heart;
• filling the inner passive chambers with passive fluid to cause the inner passive chambers to fit to the heart while not impeding heart function or constraining the heart when the direct cardiac contact compression device is inactive,
• periodically pressurizing the outer active chambers in synchrony with heart contraction to expand the outer active chambers, thereby applying force to the inner passive chambers to compress the heart;
• and
• periodically depressurizing the outer active chambers during recoil to contract the inner passive chambers and move the inner passive chambers away from the heart.