Cardiac contractile augmentation device and method therefor

A cardiac contractile augmentation device (CCAD) comprising:

• an electroactive polymer (EAP) linear segment attached along its length to a selected area of a heart, wherein the EAP segment may be energized during systole to augment the contractile strength of the heart;
• a EAP pulse generator adapted to:
• generate a contraction electrical signal that coincides with the application of a biphasic pacing pulse from a heart stimulation device connected to the heart;
• and
• generate a relaxation signal that coincides with a refractory period of the heart at diastole;
• and wherein
• the EAP linear segment is adapted to:
• receive the contraction signal from the pulse generator;
• in response to the contraction signal from the pulse generator contract along its length thereby augmenting a contraction of the selected area of the heart to which the EAP segment is attached;
• and
• in response to the relaxation signal from the EAP pulse generator, return to a relaxed state.

An active cardiac fabric (ACF) system comprising:

• a pulse generator, wherein the pulse generator is responsive to a processor;
• a active cardiac fabric comprising a network of EAP sensors and a network of EAP contractile devices that can be applied to a selected segment of the heart;
• wherein an EAP sensor is adapted for:
• sensing electrical activity of the heart;
• and
• generating an electrical activity signal in response to the sensed activity;
• and
• wherein an EAP contractile device is adapted for contracting in response to a contraction signal sent by the pulse generator;
• and
• wherein the processor is adapted for:
• receiving the electrical activity signal from the EAP sensor;
• determining whether the heart requires contractile augmentation at location proximate to the EAP contractile device;
• and
• sending a contraction instruction to the pulse generator to generate a contraction signal if the heart requires contractile augmentation at the location proximate to the EAP contractile device, wherein the pulse generator sends the contraction signal to the EAP contractile device.

An active cardiac fabric (ACF) system comprising:

• a pulse generator, wherein the pulse generator is responsive to a processor;
• an active cardiac fabric comprising a network of dual function EAP device that can be applied to a segment of the heart;
• wherein a dual function EAP device is adapted for:
• sensing electrical activity of the heart;
• generating an electrical activity signal in response to the sensed activity;
• and
• contracting in response to a contraction signal sent by the pulse generator;
• and
• wherein the processor is adapted for:
• receiving the electrical activity signal;
• determining whether the heart requires contractile augmentation at location proximate to the dual function EAP;
• and
• sending a contraction instruction to the pulse generator to generate a contraction signal if the heart requires contractile augmentation at the location proximate to the dual function EAP, wherein the pulse generator sends the contraction signal to the dual function EAP.