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 device, system, and method effects mitral valve annulus geometry of a heart. The device includes a first anchor configured to be positioned within and fixed to the coronary sinus of the heart adjacent the mitral valve annulus within the heart. A cable is fixed to the first anchor and extends proximately therefrom and slidingly through a second anchor which is positioned and fixed in the heart proximal to the first anchor. A lock locks the cable to the second anchor when tension is applied to the cable for effecting the mitral valve annulus geometry.

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: A resection device and method permits safe and efficient encapsulation, isolation and resection of body tissue. The device includes a sheath of flexible and severable material configured to receive the body tissue to be resectioned as it is drawn therein. The sheath may be expandable and held in an expanded condition as the body tissue to be resectioned is drawn into the sheath. Thereafter, the sheath is permitted to collapse about the body tissue to contain and constrict the body tissue. Once the body tissue to be resectioned is disposed in the sheath, the sheath is severed to resection the body tissue.

Abstract: A constriction device that constricts body tissue includes fixation structures for fixing the device on constricted body tissue. The device includes an elongated sleeve including an inner surface and opposed opened ends. The device is formed from expandable or elastic material so that when in an expanded condition, body tissue to be constricted may be received therein and thereafter, when released from the expanded condition, the body tissue is constricted by the device. The fixation structures include a plurality of fixation elements on the inner surface of the sleeve that grasp the body tissue upon release of the sleeve from the expanded condition to fix the device on the constricted tissue.

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: An air passageway obstruction device includes a frame structure and a flexible membrane overlying the frame structure. The frame structure is collapsible upon advancement of the device into the air passageway, expandable into a rigid structure upon deploying in the air passageway and recollapsible upon removal from the air passageway. The flexible membrane obstructs inhaled air flow into a lung portion communicating with the air passageway. The device may be removed after deployment in an air passageway by recollapsing the device and pulling the device proximally through a catheter.

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: A constriction device that constricts body tissue is viewable under X ray fluoroscopy. The device includes an elongated sleeve. The sleeve includes opposed opened ends and is formed from expandable or elastic material to receive therein, when in an expanded condition, body tissue to be constricted and to constrict the body tissue therein when released from the expanded condition. At least a portion of the sleeve includes X ray opaque material rendering the device visible under X ray fluoroscopy.

Abstract: An apparatus and method reduces the size of a lung. The apparatus includes a jacket of flexible fabric configured to cover at least a portion of the lung. A lace, carried by the jacket, collapses the jacket about the lung portion. The jacket may further include a drawstring circumscribing the jacket at the base for closing the open base of the jacket about the lung portion. The collapsing of the jacket may be employed for both reducing the size of the lung and maintaining the lung in a reduced size condition or the lung portion may be deflated prior to the placement of the jacket over the lung portion, in which case, the jacket serves to prevent re-expansion of the lung portion.

Abstract: A constriction device that constricts body tissue includes fixation structures for fixing the device on constricted body tissue. The device includes an elongated sleeve including an inner surface and opposed opened ends. The device is formed from expandable or elastic material so that when in an expanded condition, body tissue to be constricted may be received therein and thereafter, when released from the expanded condition, the body tissue is constricted by the device. The fixation structures include a plurality of fixation elements on the inner surface of the sleeve that grasp the body tissue upon release of the sleeve from the expanded condition to fix the device on the constricted tissue.

Abstract: A resection device and method permits safe and efficient encapsulation, isolation and resection of body tissue. The device includes a sheath of flexible and severable material configured to receive the body tissue to be resectioned as it is drawn therein. The sheath may be expandable and held in an expanded condition as the body tissue to be resectioned is drawn into the sheath. Thereafter, the sheath is permitted to collapse about the body tissue to contain and constrict the body tissue. Once the body tissue to be resectioned is disposed in the sheath, the sheath is severed to resection the body tissue.

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: An assembly and method for effecting the condition of a mitral valve annulus of a heart includes a guide wire configured to be fed into the coronary sinus of the heart, and a mitral valve annulus therapy device configured to be slidingly received on the guide wire and advanced into the coronary sinus of the heart on the guide wire. A guide tube may further be employed for guiding the device into the coronary sinus. An introducer which may be employed for pushing the device into or pulling device out of the heart has a mechanism for releasably locking to the device. This enables substitution of the device if needed. Also, the crossover point of the circumflex artery and coronary sinus may be determined and avoided when the device is deployed.

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: An apparatus and method reduces the size of a lung. The apparatus includes a jacket of flexible fabric configured to cover at least a portion of the lung. A lace, carried by the jacket, collapses the jacket about the lung portion. The jacket may further include a drawstring circumscribing the jacket at the base for closing the open base of the jacket about the lung portion. The collapsing of the jacket may be employed for both reducing the size of the lung and maintaining the lung in a reduced size condition or the lung portion may be deflated prior to the placement of the jacket over the lung portion, in which case, the jacket serves to prevent re-expansion of the lung portion.

Abstract: A device, system and method for treating a mitral valve is disclosed. The device is implantable in the coronary sinus of the heart to partially encircle the mitral valve annulus. The device is elongated, is resilient, and has a preformed arched configuration. When the device is implanted in the coronary sinus, the device exerts a substantially radially inward force to the mitral valve to restore mitral valve annulus geometry.