Abstract: A device for extra-cardiac actuation for the support of a failing heart is provided that utilizes the inertial component of a driving fluid to provide separately adjustable quantities of supportive energy to the left and right ventricles. By partitioning the inertial and baric forms of energy delivered to a single chamber, heart encircling assist device, and by localizing the heart to minimize lateral and axial displacement a device and method for achieving balanced left-right flow is disclosed that restores the Frank-Starling mechanism to a failing heart and assists recovery by enabling the heart to achieve physiologic cardiovascular equilibrium.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for assisting the function of a heart that is collapsible to facilitate minimally invasive procedures. The cup-shaped device may be inserted into the chest cavity and deployed on the heart via a specially configured tube. The device comprises a cup-shaped shell expanded by a support cage disposed within the shell, and an elastic cup-shaped liner, together forming an inflatable cavity between the outer surface of the liner and the inner surface of the shell. Alternate application of positive and negative pressures to the cavity provides controlled, active, systolic and diastolic support to the heart.