The devices and method described herein allow for therapeutic damage to increase volume in these hyperdynamic hearts to allow improved physiology and ventricular filling and to reduce diastolic filling pressure by making the ventricle less stiff. For example, improving a diastolic heart function in a heart by creating at least one incision in cardiac muscle forming an interior heart wall of the interior chamber where the at least one incision extends into one or more layers of the interior heart wall without puncturing through the interior heart wall and the incision is sufficient to reduce a stiffness of the interior chamber to increase volume of the chamber and reduce diastolic filing pressure.

A heart support system featuring a sleeve sized to fit about at least a portion of an adult human heart in a living body, the sleeve having an inner surface arranged to contact the heart in use and a sheath extending about and constraining the sleeve. At least one of the sheath and sleeve carry a discrete mark detectable from outside the body with the sheath and sleeve implanted within the body. The position of the support system about the heart can be determined with reference to the mark.

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.

Methods and apparatuses relate to an implantable device for providing contractile assistance to an organ. The device may include an actuator and anchors located on either side of the actuator. The anchors engage with oppositely positioned tissue walls of an organ chamber, and provide contractile assistance to the organ, repeatedly, at appropriate times. For example, the device may be implanted within the right ventricle, anchored to the right ventricular free wall and the ventricular septum. The device may function to bring the opposing walls of the ventricle toward one another, synchronized with the pacing of the heart, resulting in an improved ejection fraction of blood from the chamber. In some embodiments, the actuator includes a bladder that is configured to contract upon receiving an inflow of pressurized fluid therein. When the fluid exits therefrom, the bladder relaxes back to an initial, extended state.

Devices and methods for assisting cardiac function. In an exemplary embodiment of a device for assisting heart function of the present disclosure, the device includes a first plate and an opposing second plate, each plate having an inner surface, a cardiac processor coupled to at least one of the first plate and the second plate, a bladder having an inner chamber and disposed between the inner surfaces, and a first catheter having a proximal end in communication with the inner chamber of the bladder and a distal end having a first pericardial balloon coupled thereto, wherein a gas and/or a liquid within the inner chamber of the bladder can be injected into the first pericardial balloon upon compression of the first plate relative to the second plate, and wherein the gas and/or the liquid can be removed from the first pericardial balloon upon retraction of the first plate relative to the second plate.

A cardiac assist system includes a pneumatic effector which is implanted beneath a pericardial sac and over a myocardial surface overlying the patient's left ventricle. A port is implanted and receives a percutaneously introduced cannula. The port is connected to supply a driving gas received from the cannula to the pneumatic effector. An external drive unit includes a pump assembly and control circuitry which operate the pump to actuate the pneumatic effector in response to the patient's sensed heart rhythm. A connecting tube has a pump end connected to the pump and a percutaneous port-connecting end attached to the implantable port.

An implantable device for improving the pump function of the heart of a human patient by applying an external force on the heart muscle. The device comprises at least one pump device comprising a heart contacting organ, an operating device for operating the heart contacting organ, and an implantable pressurized fluid system. The fluid system comprises a first implantable chamber adapted to hold a pressurized fluid, wherein said first chamber is adapted to hold a fluid having a high pressure and a second implantable chamber adapted to hold a pressurized fluid, wherein said second chamber is adapted to hold a fluid having a lower pressure. The movement of the heart contacting organ assists the pump function of the heart.

An implantable device for improving the pump function of the heart of a human patient by applying an external force on the heart muscle. The device comprises at least one pump device comprising a heart contacting organ, an operating device for operating the heart contacting organ, and an implantable pressurized fluid system. The fluid system comprises a first implantable chamber adapted to hold a pressurized fluid, wherein said first chamber is adapted to hold a fluid having a high pressure and a second implantable chamber adapted to hold a pressurized fluid, wherein said second chamber is adapted to hold a fluid having a lower pressure. The movement of the heart contacting organ assists the pump function of the heart.

The present invention relates to an implantable device for improving the pump function of the heart of a human patient by applying an external force on a first position of the heart muscle following the heart's contractions. The implantable device comprising a first pump device adapted to assist the pump function of the heart. The pump device comprises a first reservoir, a second reservoir, a fluid connection adapted to fluidly connect said first reservoir with said second reservoir, such that fluid can flow between said first reservoir and said second reservoir.

The present invention relates to an implantable device for improving the pump function of the heart of a human patient by applying an external force on a first position of the heart muscle following the heart's contractions. The implantable device comprising a first pump device adapted to assist the pump function of the heart. The pump device comprises a first reservoir, a second reservoir, a fluid connection adapted to fluidly connect said first reservoir with said second reservoir, such that fluid can flow between said first reservoir and said second reservoir.