Self-adjusting attachment structure for a cardiac support device

Abstract

A cardiac support device including a jacket and elastic attachment structure for self-securing the jacket to a heart. The attachment structures can include undulating metal and polymer elements, a silicone band and elastomeric filaments on a base end of the jacket.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a cardiac support device including a jacket and an attachment mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention with the attachment mechanism in a stressed state on a heart shown in phantom lines.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of the cardiac support device of FIG. 1 with the attachment mechanism in a relaxed state.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a cardiac support device including a jacket and an attachment mechanism according to another embodiment of the present invention with the attachment mechanism in a stressed state.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of the cardiac support device of FIG. 3 with the attachment mechanism in a relaxed state.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a cardiac support device including a jacket and a fitting mechanism according to another embodiment of the present invention with the fitting mechanism in a stressed state.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of the cardiac support device of FIG. 4 with the fitting mechanism in a relaxed state.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a cardiac support device including a jacket and an attachment mechanism according to another embodiment of the present invention with the attachment mechanism in a stressed state.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of the cardiac support device of FIG. 7 with the attachment mechanism in a relaxed state.

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of a cardiac support device including a jacket and a fitting mechanism according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an illustration of a cardiac support device including a jacket and a securing mechanism according to another embodiment of the present invention, with the securing mechanism in a relaxed state.

FIG. 11 is an illustration of the cardiac support device of FIG. 10 with the securing mechanism in a drawn state.

FIG. 12 is an illustration of a cardiac support device including a jacket and a fitting mechanism according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a detailed cross-sectional view of a portion of a cardiac support device shown in FIG. 12 on the epicardial surface of a heart.

FIG. 14 is an isometric view of a cardiac support device including a jacket and an attachment mechanism according to another embodiment of the present invention, with portions of the jacket removed to show the attachment mechanism.

FIG. 15 is a detailed view of the attachment mechanism shown in FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a view of a single turn of the attachment mechanism of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is an isometric view of a cardiac support device including a jacket and an attachment mechanism according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a detailed view of the attachment mechanism shown in FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is an isometric view of a cardiac support device including a jacket and an attachment mechanism according to another embodiment of the present invention, with portions of the jacket removed to show the attachment mechanism.

FIG. 20 is a detailed view of the attachment mechanism shown in FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is an isometric view of a cardiac support device including a jacket and an attachment mechanism according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is an illustration of another embodiment of a cardiac support device having an attachment mechanism in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 23 is an illustration of another embodiment of a cardiac support device having an attachment mechanism in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 24 is a detailed illustration of the attachment mechanism shown in FIG. 23.

FIG. 25 is an illustration of another embodiment of a cardiac support device having an attachment mechanism in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 26 is an illustration of another embodiment of a cardiac support device having an attachment mechanism in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 27 is an illustration of another embodiment of a cardiac support device having an attachment mechanism in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 28 is an illustration of another embodiment of a cardiac support device having a fitting mechanism in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 29 is an illustration of another embodiment of a cardiac support device having a fitting mechanism in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 30 is an illustration of another embodiment of a cardiac support device having an attachment mechanism in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 31 is an illustration of another embodiment of a cardiac support device having a fitting mechanism in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 32 is an illustration of another embodiment of a cardiac support device having a securing mechanism in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 33 is an illustration of another embodiment of a cardiac support device having a securing mechanism in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 34 is an illustration of another embodiment of a cardiac support device having a securing mechanism in accordance with the invention.

FIGS. 35A-35D are force-extension graphs illustrating characteristics of one embodiment of the invention.

Claims

1. A cardiac support device including: a jacket including a base region, for constraining cardiac expansion; andelastic attachment structure on the base region of the jacket, for self-securing the jacket to a heart.

2. The cardiac support device of claim 1 wherein the attachment structure is attached to an exterior surface of the jacket.

3. The cardiac support device of claim 1 wherein the attachment structure is attached to an interior surface of the jacket.

4. The cardiac support device of claim 1 wherein: the jacket base region includes a hem; andthe attachment structure is within the hem.

5. The cardiac support device of claim 4 wherein the attachment structure is fixedly attached to the jacket within the hem.

6. The cardiac support device of claim 1 wherein: the jacket base region includes a channel; andthe attachment structure is free-floating within a channel.

7. The cardiac support device of claim 6 wherein the jacket includes a hem forming the channel.

8. The cardiac support device of claim 1 wherein: the jacket has a first elasticity; andthe attachment structure has a second elasticity that is greater than the first elasticity.

9. The cardiac support device of claim 1 wherein: the jacket has a first elasticity; andthe attachment structure has a second elasticity that is less than the first elasticity.

10. The cardiac support device of claim 1 wherein the attachment structure includes one or more undulating resilient elements.

11. The cardiac support device of claim 10 wherein the one or more undulating resilient elements include one or more metal elements.

12. The cardiac support device of claim 10 wherein the one or more undulating resilient elements includes one or more polymer elements.

13. The cardiac support device of claim 10 wherein the one or more undulating resilient elements includes one or more bio-resorbable elements.

14. The cardiac support device of claim 1 wherein the attachment structure includes a polymer structure.

15. The cardiac support device of claim 1 wherein the attachment structure includes a metal structure.

16. The cardiac support device of claim 1 wherein the attachment structure includes shape memory material structure.

17. The cardiac support device of claim 1 wherein the attachment structure includes bio-resorbable material structure.

18. The cardiac support device of claim 1 wherein the attachment structure extends circumferentially around the jacket.

19. The cardiac support device of claim 18 wherein the attachment structure extends completely around the jacket.

20. The cardiac support device of claim 18 wherein the attachment structure extends partially around the jacket.

21. The cardiac support device of claim 18 wherein the attachment structure includes a plurality of segments at spaced-apart locations.

22. The cardiac support device of claim 1 wherein the attachment structure includes one or more rings.

23. The cardiac support device of claim 1 wherein the attachment structure includes a helical coil.

24. The cardiac support device of claim 1 wherein the attachment structure includes a plurality of rings connected by links.

25. The cardiac support device of claim 1 wherein the attachment structure includes a hoop having two free ends.

26. The cardiac support device of claim 1 wherein the attachment structure includes a single elastomeric band.

27. The cardiac support device of claim 26 wherein the elastomeric band includes apertures.

28. The cardiac support device of claim 26 wherein the elastomeric band extends completely around the jacket.

29. The cardiac support device of claim 26 wherein the elastomeric band extends partially around the jacket.

30. The cardiac support device of claim 1 wherein the attachment structure includes a plurality of spaced-apart elastomeric bands.

31. The cardiac support device of claim 1 wherein the attachment structure includes one or more filamentary elastomeric bands.

32. The cardiac support device of claim 31 wherein the attachment structure further includes a plurality of pads.

33. The cardiac support device of claim 32 wherein the pads are attached to the filamentary elastomeric bands.

34. The cardiac support device of claim 32 wherein the pads include a textured surface.

35. The cardiac support device of claim 1 wherein the attachment structure further includes a plurality of pads.

36. The cardiac support device of claim 35 wherein the pads include a textured surface.

37. The cardiac support device of claim 1 wherein the attachment structure includes one or more elastomeric filaments.

38. The cardiac support device of claim 37 wherein the elastomeric filaments are woven into the jacket.

39. The cardiac support device of claim 38 wherein the jacket includes knit material.

40. The cardiac support device of claim 39 wherein the attachment structure elastomeric filaments are interwoven in the knit material of the jacket.

41. The cardiac support device of claim 39 wherein the attachment structure elastomeric filaments are bundled with threads of the knit material of the jacket.

42. The cardiac support device of claim 38 wherein the jacket includes non-woven material.

43. The cardiac support device of claim 16 wherein the shape memory material structure includes nitinol.