Intra-thoracic cardiac assist devices

A system for assisting cardiac performance, the system comprising:

• an expandable implant comprising a balloon and a support device disposed within the balloon, the expandable implant being movable between an expanded form and a compressed form in a periodic manner to contact, at least in the expanded form, a heart via a thoracic cavity to cause compression of the heart;
• and
• a sensor to measure cardiac rhythm, wherein the expandable implant moves in synchronization with the measured cardiac rhythm.

A system for assisting cardiac performance, the system comprising:

• a sensor to measure cardiac rhythm;
• and
• an expandable implant being movable between an expanded form and a compressed form in a periodic manner and in synchronization with the measured cardiac rhythm to contact, at least in the expanded form, a heart via a thoracic cavity to cause compression of the heart, wherein the expandable implant is structured to expand further longitudinally than laterally.