Deforming jacket for a heart actuation device
AssigneeUniversity of Cincinnati
InventorDavid Melvin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention consists of a cushioned active cyclically deforming cushion or jacket (39) that surrounds the outer or epicardial surface of at least one chamber (2, 3, 4, 5) of the natural heart, including its base, configured so that internal components may be suspended from the jacket (39) by heart wall-penetrating cords to complete a restraining harness over the entire 3-dimensional boundary of the chamber or chambers. The cushion or jacket (39) provides protective and stabilizing openings (8, 9, 10) for atria and their inflow valves as well as for great vessels and their outflow valves. It is equipped with one or more actuator mechanisms (37, 38) that cyclically change shape at one or more sites, thus altering heart wall shape and chamber volume.
Claims26
A device for assisting in the operation of the natural heart, comprising:
- a jacket configured for engaging an outer area of a chamber of the heart, the jacket including a free wall section configured for engaging a free wall of the heart chamber and a basal section configured for engaging a base of the heart chamber;
- at least the free wall section being flexurally elastic and operable for being deformed to deform the heart chamber free wall;
- the free wall section further operable to recoil after deformation to assist filling of the heart chamber.
A device for assisting in the operation of the natural heart, comprising:
- a sleeve configured for engaging and surrounding a great vessel of the heart;
- a jacket configured for engaging an outer area of a chamber of the heart, the jacket including a free wall section configured for engaging a free wall of the heart chamber and a basal section configured for engaging a base of the heart chamber;
- the basal section including at least one aperture for accommodating a great vessel of the heart;
- a portion of the sleeve dimensioned to pass through the aperture in the jacket.
A device for assisting in the operation of the natural heart, comprising:
- a collar configured for engaging an atrial chamber of the heart;
- a jacket configured for engaging an outer area of a chamber of the heart, the jacket including a free wall section configured for engaging a free wall of the heart chamber and a basal section configured for engaging a base of the heart chamber;
- the basal section including at least one aperture for accommodating an atrial chamber of the heart;
- a portion of the collar dimensioned to engage the aperture in the jacket that accommodates the atrial chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.