US 7,198,595 B2Granted

Cardiac apparatus including electroactive polymer actuators and methods of using the same

AssigneePavad Medical, Inc.

InventorsAnant V. Hegde, Wally S. Buch, Halil I. Karabey

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Abstract

Cardiac apparatus and methods of using such cardiac apparatus are described. In one embodiment, a cardiac apparatus includes a covering that is configured to at least partially encircle a heart with a first portion of the covering adjacent to a second portion of the covering. The cardiac apparatus also includes an electroactive polymer actuator. A first end of the electroactive polymer actuator is coupled to the first portion of the covering, and a second end of the electroactive polymer actuator is coupled to the second portion of the covering. The second end of the electroactive polymer actuator is oriented such that, upon actuation of the electroactive polymer actuator, the second end of the electroactive polymer actuator extends away from the first end of the electroactive polymer actuator to move the second portion of the covering towards the first portion of the covering.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A cardiac apparatus, comprising:

a covering including a first portion and a second portion, said covering being configured to at least partially encircle a heart with said first portion of said covering adjacent to said second portion of said covering;
and
a size adjustment mechanism coupled to said covering, said size adjustment mechanism comprising a coupling member including a first end and a second end and an electroactive polymer actuator including a first end and a second end, said first end of said electroactive polymer actuator being coupled to said first portion of said covering and said first end of said coupling member being coupled to said second end of said electroactive polymer actuator and said second end of said coupling member being coupled to said second portion of said covering, said second end of said electroactive polymer actuator being oriented such that, upon actuation of said electroactive polymer actuator, said second end of said electroactive polymer actuator extends away from said first end of said electroactive polymer actuator to move said second portion of said covering towards said first portion of said covering.

A cardiac apparatus, comprising:

a covering including a first portion and a second portion spaced apart from said first portion, said covering having a size to at least partially surround a heart;
and
a size adjustment mechanism coupled to said covering and being configured to adjust said size of said covering, said size adjustment mechanism including
a multi-layered electroactive polymer actuator including a first end and an opposite, second end, said first end of said multi-layered electroactive polymer actuator being coupled to said first portion of said covering, and
a coupling member including a first end and an opposite, second end, said first end of said coupling member being coupled to said second end of said multi-layered electroactive polymer actuator, said second end of said coupling member being coupled to said second portion of said covering;
said second end of said electroactive polymer actuator being oriented such that, upon actuation of said electroactive polymer actuator, said second end of said electroactive polymer actuator extends away from said first end of said electroactive polymer actuator to move said second portion of said covering towards said first portion of said covering.

3 more elements

A cardiac apparatus comprising a covering configured to at least partially surround a heart;

and a size adjustment mechanism coupled to said covering, said size adjustment mechanism including an electroactive polymer configured to expand upon actuation to compress said heart, wherein said covering includes a frame including a first support member and a second support member spaced apart from said first support member, said electroactive polymer actuator being formed as a film extending between said first support member and said second support member and being configured to expand inwardly upon actuation to compress said heart.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/810,134Filed 26 Mar 2004 · us provisional application
Priority: 26 Mar 2003
Published: US 2004/0249236 A19 Dec 2004
Granted: 3 Apr 2007
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

A61F 2/2481
Passive devices for improving the function of the heart muscle, i.e. devices for reshaping the external surface of the heart, e.g. bags, strips…
A61M 60/191
Implantable in, on, or around the heart: mechanically acting upon the outside of the patient's native heart, e.g. compressive structures placed…
A61M 60/289
Type thereof: devices for mechanical circulatory actuation assisting the residual heart function by means mechanically acting upon the patient's…
A61M 60/486
The force acting on the actuation means being mechanical, e.g. mechanically driven members clamping a blood vessel: generated by electro-active…