Circulatory assistance device for a heart of a living being, including a cuff for periodically applying pressure to the heart by at least one dielectric elastomer membrane which is controllable by a control device in synchronization with a cardiac beat in order to convey blood in pulses, wherein the cuff is designed to be pulled over the outside of the heart and for this purpose has an inner shape that is adapted to the outer contour of the heart at least in the region outside the ventricles, wherein the cuff is composed of an outer contraction layer including the dielectric elastomer membrane and an inner padding layer, and the inner padding layer is filled with an incompressible liquid and has at least one outlet valve, which is closed in a normal state and opened in an emergency state.

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 the heart muscle, said device comprising at least one pump device comprising: a first part having a first surface, and a second part having a second surface. The first part is displaceable in relation to the second part and said first and second surfaces abut each other, at least partially. The second part exerts, directly or indirectly, force on an external part of said heart muscle.

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.

An elongated actuator including: an elongated inner tube for carrying a pressurized actuation fluid; a helical coil wrapped around the elongated inner tube; wherein the actuator undergoes actuation by means of pressure fluctuations in the elongated inner tube.

An elongated actuator including: an elongated inner tube for carrying a pressurized actuation fluid; a helical coil wrapped around the elongated inner tube; wherein the actuator undergoes actuation by means of pressure fluctuations in the elongated inner tube.

An implantable device for improving the pump function of the heart of a patient. The implantable device comprising a drive unit adapted to create kinetic movement, a force transferring member configured for transferring the kinetic movement from the drive unit to an element for improving the pump function of the heart, a fixation device connected to the drive unit, wherein the fixation device is adapted to be mounted to at least one bone in the patient's body, and a respiration movement compensator placed between the fixation device and the element for improving the pump function of the heart, for compensating for the respiratory movement of the heart in relation to the at least one bone.

An implantable device for improving the pump function of the heart of a patient. The implantable device comprising a drive unit adapted to create kinetic movement, a force transferring member configured for transferring the kinetic movement from the drive unit to an element for improving the pump function of the heart, a fixation device connected to the drive unit, wherein the fixation device is adapted to be mounted to at least one bone in the patient's body, and a respiration movement compensator placed between the fixation device and the element for improving the pump function of the heart, for compensating for the respiratory movement of the heart in relation to the at least one bone.

A surgical or laparoscopic method of creating and maintaining an opening in the thoracic diaphragm of a patient. The method comprising the steps of creating an incision in the thoracic diaphragm and thereby creating an opening in the thoracic diaphragm, placing a diaphragm passing part in said opening created in the thoracic diaphragm, passing from the abdomen through the thoracic diaphragm and into the thorax; wherein the step of placing said diaphragm passing part comprises placing a force transferring part of the diaphragm passing part in contact with the thoracic diaphragm, the force transferring part being adapted to transfer force between the abdominal side of the thoracic diaphragm and the thoracic side of the thoracic diaphragm while sliding against the thoracic diaphragm.

A surgical or laparoscopic method of creating and maintaining an opening in the thoracic diaphragm of a patient. The method comprising the steps of creating an incision in the thoracic diaphragm and thereby creating an opening in the thoracic diaphragm, placing a diaphragm passing part in said opening created in the thoracic diaphragm, passing from the abdomen through the thoracic diaphragm and into the thorax; wherein the step of placing said diaphragm passing part comprises placing a force transferring part of the diaphragm passing part in contact with the thoracic diaphragm, the force transferring part being adapted to transfer force between the abdominal side of the thoracic diaphragm and the thoracic side of the thoracic diaphragm while sliding against the thoracic diaphragm.

An implantable heart help device adapted for implantation in a human patient is provided. The device comprising a fixating member adapted to fixate said device to a part of the human body comprising bone. Further a method of fixating an implantable heart help device in a human patient is provided. The method comprises the steps of: cutting the skin of said human patient, dissecting an area of the body comprising bone, and fixating said implantable heart help device to said part of the body comprising bone.