Abstract: Described herein are partitioning devices for reducing ventricular volume that may be secured within a ventricle and separate it into a productive portion and a non-productive portion. The partitioning devices described herein may include a reinforced membrane and may be secured within the heart chamber by sealing them to the wall of the heart chamber, for example, by inflating an inflatable element on the periphery of the device. All or a region of the non-productive portion formed by these devices may be enclosed within a container or bag. The non-productive portion may be filled with a material, including occlusive materials (e.g., vasoclusive coils). Sealing and/or filling the non-productive portion formed by the devices described herein may help prevent leakage from the non-productive region. Also described herein are systems including these devices and methods of using them, which may be suitable for treating patients with heart disease, particularly congestive heart failure.

Abstract: Removable cardiac implants, applicators for inserting, repositioning and/or removing them, and methods of using them are described. In particular, removable or repositionable ventricular partitioning devices are described. Systems including removable implants and applicators for inserting and/or removing them are also described.

Abstract: A system for improving cardiac function is provided. A foldable and expandable frame having at least one anchoring formation is attached to an elongate manipulator and placed in a catheter tube while folded. The tube is inserted into a left ventricle of a heart where the frame is ejected from the tube and expands in the left ventricle. Movements of the elongate manipulator cause the anchor to penetrate the heart muscle and the elongate manipulator to release the frame. The installed frame minimizes the effects of an akinetic portion of the heart forming an aneurysmic bulge.

Abstract: Removable cardiac implants, applicators for inserting, repositioning and/or removing them, and methods of using them are described. In particular, removable or repositionable ventricular partitioning devices are described. Systems including removable implants and applicators for inserting and/or removing them are also described.

Abstract: A system for improving cardiac function is provided. A foldable and expandable frame having at least one anchoring formation is attached to an elongate manipulator and placed in a catheter tube while folded. The tube is inserted into a left ventricle of a heart where the frame is ejected from the tube and expands in the left ventricle. Movements of the elongate manipulator cause the anchor to penetrate the heart muscle and the elongate manipulator to release the frame. The installed frame minimizes the effects of an akinetic portion of the heart forming an aneurysmic bulge.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a device and method of using the device for partitioning a patient's heart chamber into a productive portion and a non-productive portion. The device is particularly suitable for treating patients with congestive heart failure. The device has an inflatable partitioning element which separates the productive and non-productive portions of the heart chamber and in some embodiments also has a supporting element, which may also be inflatable, extending between the inflatable partitioning element and the wall of the non-productive portion of the patient's heart chamber. The supporting element may have a non-traumatic distal end to engage the ventricular wall or a tissue penetrating anchoring element to secure the device to the patient's heart wall.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a partitioning device for separating a chamber of a patient's heart into a productive portion and a non-productive portion. The device is particularly suitable for treating patients with congestive heart failure. The partitioning device has a frame-reinforced, expandable membrane which separates the productive and non-productive portions of the heart chamber. Elements of the frame include ribs that are secured to the expandable membrane, to form an integrated structure that may be unilaminar or bilaminar in form. The proximal ends of the ribs of the frame have tissue-penetrating elements about the periphery thereof which are configured to penetrate tissue lining the heart wall at an angle approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the partitioning device. The partitioning device has a hub with a non-traumatic distal end to engage the ventricular wall.

Abstract: A porous membrane is inserted into a ventricle of a heart. The porous membrane creates a relatively hemostatic volume in which a thrombus can grow. Blood can still pass through fenestrations of the membrane into and out of the hemostatic volume. The fenestrations reduce pressures that act on the membrane, and so reduce stresses within the membrane. The flow characteristics through the hemostatic volume promote growth of the thrombus from a base of the hemostatic volume. The thrombus grows to slightly larger than the original size of the hemostatic volume so as to provide support for the membrane. Any remaining stresses within the membrane are thereby substantially eliminated. The thrombus shrinks over an ensuing period of time, with the membrane merely acting as a barrier to which an outer wall of the myocardium retracts. The function of the membrane is then complete, and may be absorbed.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a system and method for partitioning a patient's heart chamber into a productive portion and a non-productive portion which are particularly suitable for treating patients with congestive heart failure. The partitioning system has a plurality of partitioning devices with reinforced, expandable membranes which separate the productive and non-productive portions of the heart chamber. When deployed within the patient's heart chamber, the second partitioning device is off-set from the deployed first partitioning device to cover a region of the wall defining the patient's heart chamber which is not covered by the first partitioning device. The multiple partitioning devices may be independent from each other or may be interconnected, e.g. a tether or strand.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a device and method of using the device for partitioning a patient's heart chamber into a productive portion and a non-productive portion. The device is particularly suitable for treating patients with congestive heart failure. The device has an inflatable partitioning element which separates the productive and non-productive portions of the heart chamber and in some embodiments also has a supporting element, which may also be inflatable, extending between the inflatable partitioning element and the wall of the non-productive portion of the patient's heart chamber. The supporting element may have a non-traumatic distal end to engage the ventricular wall or a tissue penetrating anchoring element to secure the device to the patient's heart wall.

Abstract: Devices and methods are described herein which are directed to the treatment of a patient's heart having, or one which is susceptible to heart failure, to improve diastolic function.

Abstract: A partitioning device for separating a patient's heart chamber into a productive portion and a non-productive portion which is suitable for treating patients with heart disease, particularly congestive heart failure. The partitioning device has a reinforced membrane with outwardly biased members to help seal the periphery of the membrane against the wall of the patient's heart chamber. In one embodiment, the outwardly biased member is an expansive strand that extends between adjacent ribs of an expandable frame which reinforces the membrane. In another embodiment, the outwardly biased member is a hydrophilic body such as foam which swells upon contact with body fluid such as blood in the heart chamber. The reinforced membrane has a central hub with a distally extending support stem with a plurality of feet which extend radially from a centerline axis and preferably have ends that are aligned in a common plane.

Abstract: Described herein are methods of treating a patient to prevent or correct cardiac remodeling following myocardial infarction. In general these methods may include inserting or implanting a device in a heart chamber to support the affected region within 72 hours after myocardial infarction. The device may be a support device (e.g., a resilient frame) and/or a partitioning device.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a partitioning device for separating a patient's heart chamber into a productive portion and a non-productive portion. The device is particularly suitable for treating patients with congestive heart failure. The partitioning device has a reinforced, expandable membrane which separates the productive and non-productive portions of the heart chamber and a support or spacing member extending between the reinforced membrane and the wall of the patient's heart chamber. The support or spacing member has a non-traumatic distal end to engage the ventricular wall.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a partitioning device for separating a patient's heart chamber into a productive portion and a non-productive portion. The device is particularly suitable for treating patients with congestive heart failure. The partitioning device has a reinforced, expandable membrane which separates the productive and non-productive portions of the heart chamber and a support or spacing member extending between the reinforced membrane and the wall of the patient's heart chamber. The support or spacing member has a non-traumatic distal end to engage the ventricular wall.

Abstract: A method and a device for improving cardiac function are provided. The device is packaged in a collapsed state in an end of a catheter. Portions of a frame construction of the device spring outwardly when the catheter is withdrawn from the device. Anchoring formations on the frame construction secure the frame construction to a myocardium of the heart. A membrane secured to the frame construction then forms a division between volumes of an endocardial cavity of the heart on opposing sides of the membrane.

Abstract: A method and a device for improving cardiac function are provided. The device is packaged in a collapsed state in an end of a catheter. Portions of a frame construction of the device spring outwardly when the catheter is withdrawn from the device. Anchoring formations on the frame construction secure the frame construction to a myocardium of the heart. A membrane secured to the frame construction then forms a division between volumes of an endocardial cavity of the heart on opposing sides of the membrane.