A medical device for causing blood flow within a left atrial appendage (LAA) includes a flow energy capture element adapted to capture energy caused by movement within the heart. A transmission element is operably coupled to the flow energy capture element, the transmission element adapted to utilize the captured energy to cause blood flow within the LAA.

The present invention includes a device and method for a self-expanding framework device adapted to facilitate the deployment of an extra-cardiac device. The device includes a deployment tube and a self-expanding wire framework having a structure that results in the self-expanding wire framework circumferential flaring motion and bending outwardly to advance around the heart.

The present invention provides tissue-engineered pumps and valves, methods of fabricating such pumps and valves, and methods of use of such pumps and valves.

The present invention provides methods and direct cardiac contact device to improve the diastole phase and the systolic phase of a heart and includes a biocompatible film pneumatic locked to the heart to aid in heart compression and relaxation.

The present invention provides methods, systems, kits, and cardiac compression devices that have both passive chambers and active chambers to improve heart function.

A medical device including an artificial contractile structure, which may be advantageously used to assist the functioning of a hollow organ, is provided. The medical device includes an artificial contractile structure including at least one contractile element adapted to contract an organ in such a way that the contractile element is in a resting or in an activated position; at least one actuator designed to activate the contractile structure; and at least one source of energy for powering the actuator. The actuator includes an electromotor and a transmission element linking the electromotor to the contractile element, the transmission element being configured to transmit to the contractile element a force induced by the electromotor. The electromotor includes an electric motor, a gear head connected to the motor, a lead screw cooperating with a nut mounted on the lead screw, the lead screw or the nut being connected to the transmission element and cooperating with the gear head to transmit the force induced by the electromotor on the transmission element. The ratio current which is needed to maintain the contractile element in its activated position/current which is needed to change the position of the contractile element is less than 1/500.

A system for treating heart valve malfunction specifically including mitral regurgitation including a positioning structure operative to assume both expanded and contracted orientations and a retaining assembly positioned and structured to operatively dispose the positioning structure in moveably supporting lifting and/or positioning relation to the ventricular wall portion of the heart. The retaining assembly and the positioning structure are cooperatively disposed and structured to accomplish a shape variance of the heart upon a lifting or positioning force being exerted thereon substantially concurrent to the positioning structure being disposed in the expanded orientation. The force exerted on the heart at least partially defines a shape variance thereof to the extent of positioning of the leaflets of the mitral valve into a closed orientation which restricts mitral regurgitation.

An extravenous valve may include a constricting member configured to surround a body lumen or blood vessel and actuate between a lumen or vessel-occluding configuration and a non-lumen or non-vessel-occluding, configuration, the constricting member including a base material and a shape memory material coupled to the base material, a power source in communication with the constricting member, and a controller configured to receive bio-feedback from a patient. The controller may reversibly actuate the constricting member between the lumen or vessel-occluding configuration and the non-lumen or non-vessel-occluding configuration in response to the bio-feedback. The constricting member may be sized and configured to be delivered to the treatment location through the body lumen or blood vessel.

The present invention includes a device and method for a self-expanding framework device adapted to facilitate the deployment of an extra-cardiac device. The device includes a deployment tube and a self-expanding wire framework having a structure that results in the self-expanding wire framework circumferential flaring motion and bending outwardly to advance around the heart.

A method of implanting a cardiac device featuring the insertion of an inner seal member through an opening in a pericardium about a living human heart. The inner seal member has a first sealing lip disposed inside the pericardium and surrounding an aperture through the inner seal member. An outer seal member is aligned with the inner seal member. The outer seal member has a second sealing lip disposed outside the pericardium, surrounding an aperture through the outer seal member. The inner seal member is secured to the outer seal member. The firsts sealing lip is engaged against an inner surface of the pericardium. The second sealing lip is engaged against an outer surface of the pericardium. A cardiac device is inserted into the pericardium through the apertures of the inner and outer seal members.