Passive cardiac restraint systems having multiple layers of inflatable elements
AssigneeABIOMED, Inc.
InventorMichael T. Milbocker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A non-blood contacting, implantable heart assist system surrounds the natural heart and provides resistance to cardiac hypertrophy. The restraint system is composed of adjacent tube pairs arranged along a bias with respect to the axis of the heart and bound in a non-distensible sheath forming a heart wrap. The tube pairs are tapered at both ends such that when they are compressed they approximately follow the surface of the myocardium. Inflation of the tube pairs with a compressible fluid causes the wrap to exert a restraining force on the heart to prevent overexpansion during diastole.
Claims13
A cardiac restraint device for applying a restraining force to a selected portion of a natural heart, the device comprising:
- a plurality of elongate inflatable elements each having a longitudinal axis;
- and
- a sheath defining a set of unit cells, each cell encompassing at least two juxtaposed elongate inflatable members, the sheath being adapted for placement about a natural heart,
- wherein said sheath secures said elongate inflatable elements in a substantially parallel position relative to each other such that the inflatable elements form at least one inner and at least one outer layer of inflatable elements that surround a portion of the heart in use to apply a restraining force.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.