US20030023132A1 — Cyclic device for restructuring heart chamber geo…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 107 words

1 . A device for treating a natural heart having a plurality of chambers and a cardiac cycle comprising isovolumic contraction, systolic ejection, isovolumic relaxation, and diastolic filing, the device comprising: a plurality of members adapted to inwardly displace portions of a wall of one chamber of the natural heart; and a connector adapted to maintain the members in a closely spaced relationship to reconfigure a chamber of the natural heart during at least a portion of systolic ejection; wherein cyclical forces are applied to the wall of the one chamber of the natural heart to reduce adverse effects caused by reconfiguring the chamber during diastolic filling.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 107 words

1 . A device for treating a natural heart having a plurality of chambers and a cardiac cycle comprising isovolumic contraction, systolic ejection, isovolumic relaxation, and diastolic filing, the device comprising: a plurality of members adapted to inwardly displace portions of a wall of one chamber of the natural heart; and a connector adapted to maintain the members in a closely spaced relationship to reconfigure a chamber of the natural heart during at least a portion of systolic ejection; wherein cyclical forces are applied to the wall of the one chamber of the natural heart to reduce adverse effects caused by reconfiguring the chamber during diastolic filling.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 39 words

2 . The device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of members comprises two members spaced approximately 180 degrees apart, which members are adapted to inwardly displace underlying portions of a wall of one chamber of the natural heart.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 40 words

3 . The device of claim 1 wherein the cyclical forces are applied by the members adapted to inwardly displace portions of a wall of one chamber of the natural heart during at least a portion of the cardiac cycle.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 26 words

4 . The device of claim 3 wherein the connector comprises a plurality of connecting segments joining together the members through a series of hinged joints.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 50 words

5 . The device of claim 4 further comprising an energy transfer mechanism that stores energy expended by the natural heart during one portion of the cardiac cycle and releases energy to reposition the members such that the chamber is substantially more restricted during another portion of the cardiac cycle.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 43 words

6 . The device of claim 5 further comprising a locking mechanism preventing the energy transfer mechanism from storing energy during at least most of systolic ejection and preventing the energy transfer mechanism from releasing energy during at least most of diastolic filling.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 24 words

7 . The device of claim 6 wherein the locking mechanism is unlocked during late systole or during isovolumic relaxation of the cardiac cycle.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 22 words

8 . The device of claim 7 wherein the locking mechanism is unlocked using energy captured from metabolic functioning of the heart.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 22 words

9 . The device of claim 7 wherein the locking mechanism is unlocked using energy from a battery or other exogenous source.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 45 words

10 . The device of claim 3 , the plurality of members comprising first and second members, wherein said first and second members are positioned adjacent the epicardial surface of the chamber wall in a spaced relationship relative to each other about 180 degrees apart.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 42 words

11 . The device of claim 3 , the plurality of members comprising a first member configured to be positioned adjacent the anterolateral surface of the chamber and a second member configured to be positioned adjacent the posteromedial surface of the chamber.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 28 words

12 . The device of claim 3 , comprising at least one fixation device configured to maintain contact between the members and a specific surface of the chamber.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 33 words

13 . The device of claim 1 wherein the cyclical forces are applied outwardly to the endocardial surface of the chamber wall by a pressure-transfer mechanism adapted to be placed inside the chamber.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 16 words

14 . The device of claim 13 wherein the pressure-transfer mechanism comprises one or more springs.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 17 words

15 . The device of claim 13 wherein the pressure-transfer mechanism is fixedly attached to the connector.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 17 words

16 . The device of claim 13 wherein the pressure-transfer mechanism is fixedly attached to the members.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 75 words

17 . A method of treating a natural heart having a plurality of chambers and a cardiac cycle comprising isovolumic contraction, systolic ejection, isovolumic relaxation, and diastolic filing, the method comprising: inwardly displacing portions of a wall of one chamber during at least a portion of a cardiac cycle; and applying a cyclical force to the wall of the one chamber to reduce adverse effects on diastolic filling caused by displacing portions of the wall.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 75 words

17 . A method of treating a natural heart having a plurality of chambers and a cardiac cycle comprising isovolumic contraction, systolic ejection, isovolumic relaxation, and diastolic filing, the method comprising: inwardly displacing portions of a wall of one chamber during at least a portion of a cardiac cycle; and applying a cyclical force to the wall of the one chamber to reduce adverse effects on diastolic filling caused by displacing portions of the wall.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 23 words

18 . The method of claim 17 wherein the wall is inwardly displaced by restraining bars during at least most of systolic ejection.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 53 words

19 . The method of claim 18 wherein the cyclical force is applied by the restraining bars to reposition the restraining bars to a closely spaced relationship prior to systolic ejection and the restraining bars are positioned in a distantly spaced relationship applying a lesser force during at least most of diastolic filling.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 27 words

20 . The method of claim 19 wherein the restraining bars are repositioned into a closely spaced relationship prior to systolic ejection by an energy transfer mechanism.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 24 words

21 . The method of claim 19 wherein the restraining bars are allowed to reposition into a distantly spaced relationship prior to diastolic filling.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 55 words

22 . The method of claim 19 wherein the restraining bars are repositioned by balancing pressure inside the chamber with energy stored in an energy transfer mechanism, and the restraining bars are prevented from repositioning by a locking mechanism which prevents balancing the pressure inside the chamber with energy stored in the energy transfer mechanism.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 63 words

23 . A device for treating a natural heart, comprising: a plurality of members pressing inwardly on a chamber wall of the heart to reconfigure the chamber into at least two contiguous communicating portions of truncated ellipsoids during at least most of systolic ejection; and an energy transfer mechanism configured to reduce adverse effects of reconfiguration during at least most of diastolic filling.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 63 words

23 . A device for treating a natural heart, comprising: a plurality of members pressing inwardly on a chamber wall of the heart to reconfigure the chamber into at least two contiguous communicating portions of truncated ellipsoids during at least most of systolic ejection; and an energy transfer mechanism configured to reduce adverse effects of reconfiguration during at least most of diastolic filling.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 79 words

24 . A cyclical device for treating a natural heart, comprising: a plurality of members configured to be positioned adjacent the epicardial surface of a chamber of the heart; and a connector fixing the members in a first spaced relationship during at least most of systolic ejection and allowing the heart to move the members to a second spaced relationship prior to diastolic filling, wherein the second spaced relationship provides a greater chamber radius than the first spaced relationship.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 79 words

24 . A cyclical device for treating a natural heart, comprising: a plurality of members configured to be positioned adjacent the epicardial surface of a chamber of the heart; and a connector fixing the members in a first spaced relationship during at least most of systolic ejection and allowing the heart to move the members to a second spaced relationship prior to diastolic filling, wherein the second spaced relationship provides a greater chamber radius than the first spaced relationship.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 36 words

25 . The device of claim 24 further comprising at least one structure disposed adjacent an interior surface of the chamber and adapted to exert an outward force thereon during at least most of diastolic filling.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 16 words

26 . The device of claim 25 wherein the structure comprises an array of spring elements.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 53 words

27 . A device for treating a natural heart, comprising: a plurality of members configured to inwardly displace portions of a wall of a chamber of the heart; and a pressure-transfer mechanism configured to provide an outward force on the wall of the chamber, wherein the outward force decreases as the chamber expands.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 53 words

27 . A device for treating a natural heart, comprising: a plurality of members configured to inwardly displace portions of a wall of a chamber of the heart; and a pressure-transfer mechanism configured to provide an outward force on the wall of the chamber, wherein the outward force decreases as the chamber expands.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 124 words

28 . A clasp configured to be placed about a chamber of a natural heart for treatment of the natural heart, the clasp comprising: a plurality of restraining bars adapted to be placed adjacent a chamber wall external to the chamber and to reconfigure the chamber as contiguous truncated portions of ellipsoids when positioned in a closely spaced relationship to each other; a connecting component adapted to allow the restraining bars to be positioned in either of a closely spaced relationship and a distantly spaced relationship; an energy-storage member adapted to reposition the restraining bars from the distantly spaced relationship to the closely spaced relationship; and a locking mechanism preventing the restraining bars from repositioning during at least one portion of a cardiac cycle.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 124 words

28 . A clasp configured to be placed about a chamber of a natural heart for treatment of the natural heart, the clasp comprising: a plurality of restraining bars adapted to be placed adjacent a chamber wall external to the chamber and to reconfigure the chamber as contiguous truncated portions of ellipsoids when positioned in a closely spaced relationship to each other; a connecting component adapted to allow the restraining bars to be positioned in either of a closely spaced relationship and a distantly spaced relationship; an energy-storage member adapted to reposition the restraining bars from the distantly spaced relationship to the closely spaced relationship; and a locking mechanism preventing the restraining bars from repositioning during at least one portion of a cardiac cycle.

Cyclic device for restructuring heart chamber geometry

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