Self-adjusting fitting structure for a cardiac support device

Abstract

A cardiac support device including a jacket and elastic self-fitting structures between base and apex ends of the jacket. The fitting structures can include undulating metal and polymer elements and a silicone panel between the base and apex ends 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 having base and apex ends, for constraining cardiac expansion; andelastic fitting structure between the base and apex ends of the jacket, for self-securing the jacket to a heart.

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

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

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

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

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

7. The cardiac support device of claim 6 wherein the one or more undulating resilient elements includes one or more metal elements.

8. The cardiac support device of claim 6 wherein the one or more undulating resilient elements includes one or more polymer elements.

9. The cardiac support device of claim 6 wherein the one or more undulating resilient elements includes one or more bio-resorbable elements.

10. The cardiac support device of claim 1 wherein the fitting structure includes a polymer structure.

11. The cardiac support device of claim 1 wherein the fitting structure includes a metal structure.

12. The cardiac support device of claim 1 wherein the fitting structure includes shape memory material structure.

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

14. The cardiac support device of claim 1 wherein the fitting structure extends most of the distance between the base and apex ends.

15. The cardiac support device of claim 1 wherein the fitting structure extends partially around the jacket.

16. The cardiac support device of claim 1 wherein the fitting structure extends completely around the jacket.

17. The cardiac support device of claim 1 wherein the fitting structure includes a plurality of segments at spaced-apart locations between the base and apex ends.

18. The cardiac support device of claim 1 wherein the fitting structure includes a panel of elastomeric material.

19. The cardiac support device of claim 18 wherein the panel of elastomeric material is a solid panel.

20. The cardiac support device of claim 18 wherein the panel of elastomeric material includes a plurality of apertures.

21. The cardiac support device of claim 18 wherein the panel of elastomeric material includes silicone.

22. The cardiac support device of claim 1 wherein the fitting structure includes a panel of knit material.

23. The cardiac support device of claim 22 wherein the panel of knit material includes elastomeric threads.

24. The cardiac support device of claim 23 wherein the elastomeric filaments are bundled with threads of the knit material.

25. The cardiac support device of claim 1 wherein the fitting structure includes one or more elastomeric threads woven into the jacket.

26. The cardiac support device of claim 25 wherein the jacket includes non-woven material.

27. The cardiac support device of claim 1 wherein the fitting structure includes a panel of material between edges of the jacket.