A cardiac device for implantation proximate an exterior of a heart, the cardiac device including an inflatable bladder including an inner wall and an outer wall, wherein the inner wall itself is more expandable than the outer wall itself such that the inflatable bladder itself is configured to deform substantially inwardly to exert localized pressure against a region of the heart when the inflatable bladder is positioned adjacent the region of the heart and inflated.

Embodiments of the present disclosure include a cardiac device comprising a band configured for deployment within a heart. The band may include a first end and a second end, an actuatable clasp associated with the first end of the band and configured to transition, upon actuation, from an open configuration to a closed configuration for forming the band into a fixed length loop after the second end is moved beyond the clasp. The clasp may be configured for actuation via a catheter. The cardiac device may include a clasp retainer associated with the clasp, the clasp retainer being configured to hold the clasp in the open configuration and the clasp being configured to be actuated upon movement of the clasp retainer, and a clasp actuator configured to move the clasp retainer thereby actuating the clasp.

A device for treating chronic heart failure made of a construct composed of cardiac tissue and a frame supporting the construct. The frame has a plurality of elongated members and the cardiac tissue is attached to the elongated members. The elongated members extend outwardly from a converging region and diverge to provide a distal opening and a space proximal of the distal opening between the elongated members, the space dimensioned to fit over a heart of the patient to treat chronic heart failure.

Embodiments of the present disclosure include a cardiac device comprising a band configured to form a loop within a heart and including a first end and a second end, a plurality of sequential locking segments located in a region of the band near the second end, and an actuatable clasp located at or near the first end. Each locking segment may have a ledged region and a ramped region. The actuatable clasp may be configured to form a fixed length loop by locking onto the ledged region of a locking segment after the second end has been inserted into the clasp. Adjacent locking segments may be configured to flex relative to each other, thereby enabling adjacent ramped regions to cooperate with each other to facilitate a sliding of the segments into the clasp.

Devices, systems, and methods for treating a heart of a patient may make use of structures which limit a size of a chamber of the heart, such as by deploying one or more tensile member to bring a wall of the heart and a septum of the heart into contact. A plurality of tension members may help exclude scar tissue and provide a more effective remaining ventricle chamber. The implant may be deployed during beating of the heart, often in a minimally invasive or less-invasive manner. Trauma to the tissues of the heart may be inhibited by selectively approximating tissues while a pressure within the heart is temporarily reduced. Three-dimensional implant locating devices and systems facilitate beneficial heart chamber volumetric shape remodeling.

A method for making a biocompatible three-dimensional object includes delivering, using a delivery system, a biocompatible fluid substance comprising a plurality of particles towards a support body having a matrix surface to obtain a coating layer of predetermined thickness configured for coating the matrix surface, generating a relative movement with at least three degrees of freedom between the support body and the delivery system, and removing from the support body any surplus particles of the biocompatible fluid substance to make uniform the predetermined thickness of the coating layer. The support body is coated with the biocompatible fluid substance to obtain a three-dimensional object having an object surface corresponding to the matrix surface.

Apparatus and methods are described herein for use in the delivery of a prosthetic mitral valve. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a tether fixer assembly configured to engage an outside surface of a heart to secure a prosthetic heart valve in position within the heart. The fixer assembly defines a lumen configured to receive therethrough a tether extending from the prosthetic valve and a movable portion. The fixer assembly is movable between a first configuration, in which the movable portion is disengaged with the tether, and a second configuration in which the movable portion is engaged with the tether. The fixer assembly can be disposed against an epicardial pad positioned on the outside surface of the heart when in the second configuration to secure the prosthetic valve, the epicardial pad and tether in a desired position within the heart.

Devices and methods for providing localized pressure to a region of a patient's heart to improve heart functioning, including: (a) a jacket made of a flexible biocompatible material, the jacket having an open top end that is received around the heart and a bottom portion that is received around the apex of the heart; and (b) at least one inflatable bladder disposed on an interior surface of the jacket, the inflatable bladder having an inelastic outer surface positioned adjacent to the jacket and an elastic inner surface such that inflation of the bladder causes the bladder to deform substantially inwardly to exert localized pressure against a region of the heart.

Devices, systems and methods for altering functioning of a tissue/organ by application of force thereto. In one preferred embodiment, a device for reducing or preventing regurgitation of blood through a valve of a heart is provided. A device may include a main body having a segment adapted to apply force to a surface of tissue/organ; a member that applies counterforce to the force applied by the segment; and an adjuster that is manually operable to change the force applied by the segment. The adjuster can be manually operated before or after anchoring of the device to the tissue/organ.

A stable conductive myocardial patch with a negative Poisson's ratio structure is provided. The preparation method includes preparing a myocardial patch substrate with concave polygons as the structural units by weaving or knitting, and then a conductive coating is coated on the surface of the substrate. Alternatively, the yarns can be processed into conductive coated yarns first, and then used as the raw material to weave or knit a stable conductive myocardial patch with a negative Poisson's ratio structure. The prepared myocardial patch has a relative resistance change of less than 5% at 50% tensile strain. When the strain of the structural units is within 50%, the fabric exhibits a negative Poisson's ratio structure, which expands in the perpendicular direction of the tensile load. The fabric exhibits a negative Poisson's ratio effect and anisotropy of Young's modulus, which matches the mechanical behavior of natural myocardium.