# US 2014/0194672 A1 · Supporting a heart > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0194672 A1 - Document ID: US20140194672A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/839,845 - Filed: 2013-03-15 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-08 - Assignees: AdjuCor GmbH - Inventors: Stephen Manuel Wildhirt; Andreas Maier - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140194672A1 ## CPC - A61M 60/857: Implantable blood tubes - A61M 60/161: mechanically acting upon the outside of the patient's blood vessel structure, e.g. compressive structures placed around a vessel - A61M 60/405: the force acting on the blood contacting member being hydraulic or pneumatic - A61M 60/531: using blood pressure data, e.g. from blood pressure sensors - A61M 60/554: of blood pressure - A61M 39/0247: {Transcutaneous or percutaneous access sites to the inside of the body} - A61M 60/268: the displacement member being flexible, e.g. membranes, diaphragms or bladders - A61M 60/871: Energy supply devices; Converters therefor - A61M 2039/0267: {comprising sensors or electrical contacts} - A61M 2039/027: {having a particular valve, seal or septum} - A61M 2039/0273: {for introducing catheters into the body} - A61M 2039/0276: {for introducing or removing fluids into or out of the body} - A61M 2039/1022: {additionally providing electrical connection} - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract A heart support system featuring a constraint sized to fit about at least a portion of an adult human heart in a living body, an expandable chamber disposed within the constraint so as to apply pressure against the heart when expanded and a connector system including a pneumatic connection port in hydraulic communication with the expandable chamber. The heart support system can include a supply unit with: a source of pressurized fluid and a pneumatic supply line extending from the pressurized fluid source. The pneumatic supply line is connectable to the pneumatic connection port. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A heart support system comprising a constraint sized to fit about at least a portion of an adult human heart in a living body; an expandable chamber disposed within the constraint so as to apply pressure against the heart when expanded; and a connector system including a pneumatic connection port in hydraulic communication with the expandable chamber. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The heart support system of claim 1, further comprising a supply unit comprising: a source of pressurized fluid; and a pneumatic supply line extending from the pressurized fluid source and connectable to the pneumatic connection port. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The heart support system of claim 2, wherein the connector system includes a connection lock for securing connection of the supply line to the connection port. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The heart support system of claim 2, wherein the pneumatic supply line comprises a flexible cable. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The heart support system of claim 4, wherein the cable is coated with a cable coating. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The heart support system of claim 5, wherein the cable coating comprises a coating material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, silicon, polytetrafluorethylene, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, and polyamide. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The heart support system of claim 4, wherein the cable is reinforced with a fabric. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The heart support system of claim 2, wherein the supply unit is disposed at least partially within a living body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The heart support system of claim 1, disposed completely within a living body, with the constraint disposed about a beating heart. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The heart support system of claim 1, comprising multiple separately expandable chambers disposed within the constraint, and wherein the connector system includes multiple pneumatic connection ports each in hydraulic communication with a respective expandable chamber. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The heart support system of claim 1, further comprising an electrical sensor, and wherein the connector system further includes an electrical connector for attaching an electrical line to the sensor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The heart support system of claim 11, wherein the electrical connector comprises a sealing surface. ### Claim 13 A method of supporting a heart, the method comprising: inserting a heart constraint into a living body; positioning the heart constraint about at least a portion of a heart within the body, with an expandable chamber disposed between the heart constraint and the heart; connecting a source of pressurized fluid to the expandable chamber; and then expanding the chamber to apply pressure to the heart, by causing pressurized fluid to flow into the chamber from the pressurized fluid source. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein connecting the source of pressurized fluid comprises coupling a pneumatic supply line from the pressurized fluid source to a pneumatic connection port in communication with the expandable chamber. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising locking the coupled supply line to the connection port. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising implanting the pressurized fluid source within the body. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the positioned heart constraint encloses multiple separately expandable chambers, and wherein connecting the source of pressurized fluid includes connecting the source to multiple pneumatic connection ports each in hydraulic communication with a respective expandable chamber. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising connecting an electrical sensor coupled to the heart constraint. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein positioning the heart constraint comprises positioning a sleeve about the heart. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the heart constraint comprises an expandable heart sheath. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein inserting the heart constraint comprises: inserting a catheter into the body and into the pericardium; forming a sealed opening in the pericardium; and inserting the expandable heart sheath into the body and into the pericardium via the catheter.