A system and method used to deliver a percutaneous ventricular assist device (pVAD) or other cardiac therapeutic device to a site within the heart, such as a site at the aortic valve. A flexible device is percutaneously introduced into a vasculature of a patient and positioned to run from a femoral vein, through the heart via a transseptal puncture, and to a femoral artery. The venous-side end of the flexible device is withdrawn out the venous vasculature superior to the heart, and a pVAD is secured to the flexible device. The pVAD is pushed in a distal direction while the arterial-side end of the flexible device is pulled in the proximal direction to advance the pVAD to the target site. A left ventricle redirector aids in orienting the pVAD and preventing migration of the flexible member towards delicate structures of the heart during advancement of the pVAD.

The present invention relates to an apparatus (500) for supporting the heart action, preferably by displacing the heart base (110) and/or the aortic root (201), comprising at least a first anchor (501) and a pulling device or guiding device (502, 503, 732, 732a, 732b) for moving the first anchor (501), wherein the first anchor (501) is provided and designed for implantation in or on the heart base (110), the heart skeleton (120), the aortic root (201) and/or a structure in local proximity to the aortic root (210), and/or comprising at least one lifting drive (502, 503). The present invention further relates to a control device (901), an insertion system, a kit and a method for supporting the heart action.

A method for repairing a heart includes identifying a heart of a patient as having a reduced ejection fraction. In response to the identifying, wall stress of a ventricle of the heart is reduced by implanting apparatus that facilitates cyclical moving of fluid that is not blood of the patient into and out of the ventricle of the heart. During ventricular diastole, a volume of the fluid is moved into the ventricle in a manner that produces a corresponding decrease in a total volume of blood that fills the ventricle during diastole. During ventricular systole, the volume of the fluid is moved out of the ventricle in a manner that produces a corresponding decrease in a total volume of the ventricle during isovolumetric contraction of the ventricle. Other embodiments are also described.

A method for repairing a heart includes identifying a heart of a patient as having a reduced ejection fraction. In response to the identifying, wall stress of a ventricle of the heart is reduced by implanting apparatus that facilitates cyclical moving of fluid that is not blood of the patient into and out of the ventricle of the heart. During ventricular diastole, a volume of the fluid is moved into the ventricle in a manner that produces a corresponding decrease in a total volume of blood that fills the ventricle during diastole. During ventricular systole, the volume of the fluid is moved out of the ventricle in a manner that produces a corresponding decrease in a total volume of the ventricle during isovolumetric contraction of the ventricle. Other embodiments are also described.

The exoskeleton (10) for assisting surgical positioning is made of biocompatible material and formed to be substantially form-preserving. The exoskeleton (10) comprises a shell (11) having a coupling surface (15b) fitting to at least a part of a surface of an organ to be operated, and a guiding channel (13) is formed in the shell (11) at a predetermined position, said guiding channel having a predetermined orientation with respect to said shell and a predetermined cross-sectional area for directing a surgical tool to the organ to be operated.

Ventricular assist devices configured to be placed in a ventricle of a heart are described. In one embodiment, a ventricular assist device may include a pumping pouch. The pumping pouch may have an opening. The pumping pouch may be flexible, and may define an internal volume configured to fill with blood in through the opening. The ventricular assist device may also include a contraction element coupled to the contraction pouch. The contraction element may be capable of squeezing at least a portion of the pumping pouch to force at least a portion of the blood out through the opening. The ventricular assist device may also include a frame coupled to the pumping pouch. The frame may be configured to be coupled to a wall of the heart.

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.

The present invention provides a direct cardiac compression device for individualized support at different locations around the heart, the device comprising: a housing shaped to conform to the shape of the heart and to surround the heart; two or more active chambers positioned adjacent to the housing, wherein the two or more active comprise one or more right active chambers positioned on the right ventricle side of the heart and one or more left active chambers positioned on the left ventricle side of the heart, wherein the two or more active chambers are designed to conform to the shape of the heart, each active chamber comprising an inner membrane sealingly attached along its periphery to the housing and an active fluid individually supplied thereto; a right input connection in fluid communication with the one or more right active chambers to ingress the active fluid into each of the one or more right active chambers; a left input connection in fluid communication with the one or more left active chambers to ingress the active fluid into each of the one or more left active chambers, and a driver in fluid communication with each of the right input connection and the left input connection to individually and periodically ingress and egress the active fluid therefrom, wherein the active fluid individually inflates the one or more right active chambers and the one or more left active chambers to compress the heart.

Apparatus and methods are described including a left-ventricular assist device that includes a tube configured to traverse a subject's aortic valve, with a distal portion of the tube disposed within the subject's left ventricle. A frame is disposed within the distal portion of the tube. A pump disposed within the frame pumps blood through the tube. A distal-tip element defines a straight proximal portion that defines a longitudinal axis, and a curved distal portion that is shaped such as to curve in a first direction with respect to the longitudinal axis before passing through an inflection point and curving in a second direction with respect to the longitudinal axis, such that the curved distal portion defines a bulge on one side of the longitudinal axis. Other applications are also described.

The present invention relates to surgical or laparoscopic method of creating and maintaining an opening in the thoracic diaphragm of a patient. In said method, an incision in the thoracic diaphragm is created, thereby creating an opening in the thoracic diaphragm. Further a diaphragm passing part is placed in said opening created in the thoracic diaphragm, passing from the abdomen, through the thoracic diaphragm at the pericardial contacting section, into the pericardium; When placing the diaphragm passing part a force transferring part of the diaphragm passing part is placed in contact with the thoracic diaphragm, the force transferring part being adapted to, by motion of the force transferring part, transfer force between the abdominal side of the thoracic diaphragm and the thoracic side of the thoracic diaphragm or the pericardium while sliding against the thoracic diaphragm.