Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a cardiac reinforcement device (CRD) and method for the treatment of cardiomyopathy. The CRD provides for reinforcement of the walls of the heart by constraining cardiac expansion, beyond a predetermined limit, during diastolic expansion of the heart. A CRD of the invention can be applied to the epicardium of the heart to locally constrain expansion of the cardiac wall or to circumferentially constrain the cardiac wall during cardiac expansion.

Abstract: A device for treating cardiac disease of a heart includes a jacket of flexible material defining a volume between an open upper end and a lower end. The jacket is dimensioned for an apex of the heart to be inserted into the volume through the open upper end and for the jacket to be slipped over the heart. The jacket is adapted to be secured to the heart with the jacket having portions disposed on opposite sides of the heart. The jacket is adjustable to snugly conform to an external geometry of the heart and to constrain circumferential expansion of the heart during diastole and permit substantially unimpeded contraction of the heart during systole. A first and a second grid of electrodes are carried on the jacket. The grids are disposed to be in overlying relation to individual ones of the opposite sides of the heart when the jacket is secured to the heart.

Abstract: A cardiac constraint jacket is formed of flexible material defining a volume between an open upper end and a lower end. The jacket is dimensioned for an apex of a patient's heart to be inserted into the volume through the open upper end and for the jacket to be slipped over the heart. A delivery device is used to place the jacket on the heart. The delivery device includes a plurality of attachment locations. Each of the attachment locations is releasably secured to separate positions surrounding a periphery of the open upper end of the jacket. The delivery device also includes a control arrangement which is selectively movable between an open position and a closed position. The control arrangement is connected to the attachment locations such that the attachment locations are in a compact array urging the open upper end of the jacket into a collapsed configuration when the control member is in the closed position.

Abstract: A jacket of biological compatible material has an internal volume dimensioned for an apex of the heart to be inserted into the volume and for the jacket to be slipped over the heart. The jacket has a longitudinal dimension between upper and lower ends sufficient for the jacket to surround a lower portion of the heart with the jacket surrounding a valvular annulus of the heart and further surrounding the lower portion to cover at least the ventricular lower extremities of the heart. The jacket is adapted to be secured to the heart with the jacket surrounding at least the valvular annulus and the ventricular lower extremities. The jacket is adjustable on the heart to snugly conform to an external geometry of the heart and assume a maximum adjusted volume for the jacket to constrain circumferential expansion of the heart beyond the maximum adjusted volume during diastole and to permit unimpeded contraction of the heart during systole.

Abstract: A cardiac constraint jacket is formed of flexible material defining a volume between an open upper end and a lower end. The jacket is dimensioned for an apex of a patient's heart to be inserted into the volume through the open upper end and for the jacket to be slipped over the heart. A delivery device is used to place the jacket on the heart. The delivery device includes a plurality of attachment locations. Each of the attachment locations is releasably secured to separate positions surrounding a periphery of the open upper end of the jacket. The delivery device also includes a control arrangement which is selectively movable between an open position and a closed position. The control arrangement is connected to the attachment locations such that the attachment locations are in a compact array urging the open upper end of the jacket into a collapsed configuration when the control member is in the closed position.

Abstract: A method for treating cardiac disease includes accessing a heart and restricting a blood supply to the heart to reduce a size of the heart. A constraining device is placed on the heart. The constraining device is secured to the heart with the constraining device having portions disposed on opposite sides of the heart to constrain circumferential expansion of the heart during diastole and permit unimpeded contraction of the heart during systole. Access to the heart is closed while leaving the constraining device in place on the heart.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating congestive heart disease and related cardiac complications such as valvular disorders includes a constraining device placed on the heart. The constraining device is a jacket of flexible material of knit construction defining a volume between an open upper end and a lower end. The jacket is dimensioned for the apex of the heart to be inserted into the volume through the open upper end and for the jacket to be slipped over the heart. The jacket is further dimensioned for the jacket to have a longitudinal dimension between the upper and lower ends sufficient for said jacket to constrain said lower portion of the heart. The jacket adapted to be adjusted on the heart to snugly conforming to an external geometry of the heart to constrain circumferential expansion of the heart beyond. A flexible drawstring is laced through the jacket material for the knit material to be bunched together as one end of the drawstring is pulled.

Abstract: A surgical tool for measuring a perimeter of a heart at a location spaced from an apex of the heart includes a handle having a head having first and second sides. The head is adapted to be placed against the heart at the measurement location with the sides spaced apart along the perimeter. The head has a first slot formed in the first side communicating with an interior of the handle. The handle has a proximal end opposite the head. A second slot is formed in the proximal end communicating with the handle interior. The handle has a visibly perceptible handle marking adjacent the second slot. An elongate flexible member has a first end secured to the handle and extending from the second side of the head. The elongate flexible member is passed through the first and second slots and terminates at a free end external of the handle. The elongate flexible member has a plurality of tape markings disposed along a length of the elongate flexible member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating congestive heart disease and related cardiac complications such as valvular disorders and includes a constraining device placed on the heart. The constraining device is a jacket of flexible material of knit construction defining a volume between an open upper end and a lower end. The jacket is dimensioned for the apex of the heart to be inserted into the volume through the open upper end and for the jacket to be slipped over the heart. The jacket is further dimensioned for the jacket to have a longitudinal dimension between the upper and lower ends sufficient for said jacket to constrain said lower portion of the heart. The jacket adapted to be adjusted on the heart to snugly conform to an external geometry of the heart to constrain circumferential expansion of the heart beyond.

Abstract: A device for treating cardiac disease of a heart includes a jacket of flexible material defining a volume between an open upper end and a lower end. The jacket is dimensioned for an apex of the heart to be inserted into the volume through the open upper end and for the jacket to be slipped over the heart. The jacket is adapted to be secured to the heart with the jacket having portions disposed on opposite sides of the heart. The jacket is adjustable to snugly conform to an external geometry of the heart and to constrain circumferential expansion of the heart during diastole and permit substantially unimpeded contraction of the heart during systole. A first and a second grid of electrodes are carried on the jacket. The grids are disposed to be in overlying relation to individual ones of the opposite sides of the heart when the jacket is secured to the heart. The first and second grids are connectable to a source of a defibrillating waveform.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a cardiac reinforcement device (CRD) and method for the treatment of cardiomyopathy. The CRD provides for reinforcement of the walls of the heart by constraining cardiac expansion, beyond a predetermined limit, during diastolic expansion of the heart. A CRD of the invention can be applied to the epicardium of the heart to locally constrain expansion of the cardiac wall or to circumferentially constrain the cardiac wall during cardiac expansion.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a cardiac reinforcement device (CRD) and method for the treatment of cardiomyopathy. The CRD provides for reinforcement of the walls of the heart by constraining cardiac expansion, beyond a predetermined limit, during diastolic expansion of the heart. A CRD of the invention can be applied to the epicardium of the heart to locally constrain expansion of the cardiac wall or to circumferentially constrain the cardiac wall during cardiac expansion.

Abstract: A jacket for placement over a heart to constrain congestive heart failure related expansion includes a biocompatible fabric formed into a pouch having a base end and an apical end with an interior of the pouch sized to receive a patient's heart. The base end has a peripheral edge defining a base opening sized to pass an apex of the heart through the base opening. The heart is slipped into the interior of the pouch with the apical end facing the apex of the heart and with the base end facing toward a base of the heart. At the base end, the fabric is folded over for the peripheral edge to have at least a double layer of the fabric. The double layer terminates at a free edge on an outer surface of the pouch and is spaced from the peripheral edge. In an additional embodiment, the fabric includes a side edge of opposing fabric surfaces extending from the apical end to the base end. The opposing fabric surfaces are joined by a stitch assembly.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a cardiac reinforcement device (CRD) and method for the treatment of cardiomyopathy. The CRD provides for reinforcement of the walls of the heart by constraining cardiac expansion, beyond a predetermined limit, during diastolic expansion of the heart. A CRD of the invention can be applied to the epicardium of the heart to locally constrain expansion of the cardiac wall or to circumferentially constrain the cardiac wall during cardiac expansion.

Abstract: A jacket of biological compatible material has an internal volume dimensioned for an apex of the heart to be inserted into the volume and for the jacket to be slipped over the heart. The jacket has a longitudinal dimension between upper and lower ends sufficient for the jacket to surround a lower portion of the heart with the jacket surrounding a valvular annulus of the heart and further surrounding the lower portion to cover at least the ventricular lower extremities of the heart. The jacket is adapted to be secured to the heart with the jacket surrounding at least the valvular annulus and the ventricular lower extremities. The jacket is adjustable on the heart to snugly conform to an external geometry of the heart and assume a maximum adjusted volume for the jacket to constrain circumferential expansion of the heart beyond the maximum adjusted volume during diastole and to permit unimpeded contraction of the heart during systole.

Abstract: A jacket of biological compatible material has an internal volume dimensioned for an apex of the heart to be inserted into the volume and for the jacket to be slipped over the heart. The jacket has a longitudinal dimension between upper and lower ends sufficient for the jacket to surround a lower portion of the heart with the jacket surrounding a valvular annulus of the heart and further surrounding the lower portion to cover at least the ventricular lower extremities of the heart. The jacket is adapted to be secured to the heart with the jacket surrounding at least the valvular annulus and the ventricular lower extremities. The jacket is adjustable on the heart to snugly conform to an external geometry of the heart and assume a maximum adjusted volume for the jacket to constrain circumferential expansion of the heart beyond the maximum adjusted volume during diastole and to permit unimpeded contraction of the heart during systole.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a cardiac reinforcement device (CRD) and method for the treatment of cardiomyopathy. The CRD provides for reinforcement of the walls of the heart by constraining cardiac expansion, beyond a predetermined limit, during diastolic expansion of the heart. A CRD of the invention can be applied to the epicardium of the heart to locally constrain expansion of the cardiac wall or to circumferentially constrain the cardiac wall during cardiac expansion.