Implantable heart assist devices and methods

Abstract

Heart support and assist devices for supporting and assisting the pumping action of the heart. Various embodiments include mesh support devices, devices using straps, spiral-shaped devices, catheter-based devices and related methods.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09 / 677,981 filed Oct. 3, 2000 (now pending), the disclosure of which is fully incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention generally relates to devices used to physically support the heart and, alternatively, also actively assist the pumping action of the heart. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] The treatment of heart failure over the long term is a difficult problem. At the same time, weak cardiac muscle function is becoming an increasing problem. Patients are surviving longer and more patients are surviving myocardial infarcts leading to a large pool of patients who are inadequately served by current medical practice. Drug treatment to increase the strength of mycardial contraction has been unsuccessful over the long term. Recently, biventricular pacing (rather than the usual univentricular pacing) has been tried and this offers some promise in selected patients but is unlikely...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014] The present invention is generally directed toward heart support and assist devices including fully passive restraints, combinations of passive and active devices and fully active devices for assisting with heart contractions. Passive restraints generally include an external support member, which may be a strap, web or mesh, sheathing or other member configured to extend around the outside of the heart coupled with an internal support member extending within at least one of the ventricles and against one side of the interventricular septum. This type of

Problems solved by technology

The treatment of heart failure over the long term is a difficult problem.

At the same time, weak cardiac muscle function is becoming an increasing problem.

Patients are surviving longer and more patients are surviving myocardial infarcts leading to a large pool of patients who are inadequately served by current medical practice.

Drug treatment to increase the strength of mycardial contraction has been unsuccessful over the long term.

Recently, biventricular pacing (rather than the usual univentricular pacing) has been tried and this offers some promise in selected patients but is unlikely to solve the problem.

Conventional methods have been unable to inject adequate energy into the cardiovascular system.

Past attempts with the Jarvic heart or other replacement systems have met with problems such as failure due to thromboembolism.

These clots eventually break off and lodge in the brain leading to strokes or resulting in ischemic injury to other body organs.

It has also been postulated that long-term exposure of blood to large artificial surfaces sets up a chronic inflammatory reaction which may predispose the patient to infection.

This device requires considerable residual cardiac function to operate.

Blood clotting, hemolysis and degradation of blood become problems in this situation.

Pneumatically and electrically driven de

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