Heart wall tension reduction apparatus and method

Claim 2

1 . A heart wall tension reduction apparatus, comprising: a first tension member having two oppositely disposed ends; and first and second anchor members, the first anchor member being disposed proximate one end of the tension member and second anchor member being disposed proximate the opposite end of the tension member.

Claim 3

2 . The heart wall tension reduction apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the first anchor member comprises a first pad having a length and a width, and the second anchor member comprises a second pad having a length and a width, and the first and second pad each have two lengthwise ends.

Claim 4

3 . The heart wall tension reduction apparatus in accordance with claim 2 , wherein the length of the pads is greater than the width of the respective pad.

Claim 5

4 . A heart wall tension reduction apparatus in accordance with claim 2 , further comprising a second tension member having two oppositely disposed ends; and one lengthwise end of the first pad is disposed proximate one end of the first tension member, and the opposite lengthwise end of the first pad is disposed proximate one end of the second tension member, and one lengthwise end of the second pad is disposed proximate the end of the first tension member opposite the first pad, and the opposite lengthwise of the second pad is disposed proximate the end of the second tension member opposite the first pad.

Claim 6

5 . The heart wall tension reduction apparatus in accordance with claim 4 , wherein the length of the first pad is greater than the width of the respective pads.

Claim 7

6 . The heart wall tension reduction apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising a third anchor member, and a second tension member having two oppositely disposed ends; wherein the third anchor member is disposed proximate one end of the second tension member and the first anchor member is disposed proximate the opposite end of the second tension member.

Claim 8

7 . The heart wall tension reduction apparatus in accordance with claim 6 , wherein the first anchor member comprises a first pad having a length and width, and the second anchor member comprises a second pad having a length and a width, and the first and second pads each have two lengthwise ends.

Claim 9

8 . The heart wall tension reduction apparatus in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the length of the pads is greater than the width of the respective pad.

Claim 10

9 . The heart wall tension reduction apparatus, comprising: an elongate compression member having first and second ends; first and second elongate lever members, the first lever member extending from the first end of the compression member, and the second lever member extending from the second end of the compression member; and a tension member extending between the first and second lever members.

Claim 11

9 . The heart wall tension reduction apparatus, comprising: an elongate compression member having first and second ends; first and second elongate lever members, the first lever member extending from the first end of the compression member, and the second lever member extending from the second end of the compression member; and a tension member extending between the first and second lever members.

Claim 12

10 . A heart wall tension reduction apparatus in accordance with claim 9 , wherein each of the two lever members have two ends, one end of each of the two lever members is disposed proximate the compression member, the other end each of the two lever members is disposed remotely from he compression member, and the tension member is disposed closer to the ends of the two lever members disposed proximate the compression member than the ends disposed remotely therefrom.

Claim 13

11 . A method of disposing a heart wall tension reduction apparatus on a human heart having a plurality of chambers, comprising the steps of: providing a heart wall tension reduction apparatus including an elongate compression member having first and second ends; first and second elongate lever members, the first lever member extending from the first end of the compression member, and the second lever member extending from the second end of the compression member; a tension member extending between the first and second lever members; and extending the tension member through at least one chamber of the human heart.

Claim 14

11 . A method of disposing a heart wall tension reduction apparatus on a human heart having a plurality of chambers, comprising the steps of: providing a heart wall tension reduction apparatus including an elongate compression member having first and second ends; first and second elongate lever members, the first lever member extending from the first end of the compression member, and the second lever member extending from the second end of the compression member; a tension member extending between the first and second lever members; and extending the tension member through at least one chamber of the human heart.

Claim 15

12 . A method in accordance with claim 11 , further comprising the step of disposing the compression member external to the heart.

Claim 16

13 . The method in accordance with claim 11 , further comprising the step of disposing at least a portion of the compression member within the heart.

Claim 17

14 . A heart wall tension reduction apparatus, comprising: a rigid elongate frame member having a first end and a second end; a first cantilever member disposed at the first end of the frame member; and a second cantilever member disposed at the second end of the frame member.

Claim 18

14 . A heart wall tension reduction apparatus, comprising: a rigid elongate frame member having a first end and a second end; a first cantilever member disposed at the first end of the frame member; and a second cantilever member disposed at the second end of the frame member.

Claim 19

15 . A heart wall tension reduction apparatus in accordance with claim 14 , wherein each cantilever member includes at least one atraumatic pad disposed thereon.

Claim 20

16 . A heart wall tension reduction apparatus in accordance with claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of cantilever members disposed at the first and second ends of the frame member.

Claim 21

17 . The method of placing a heart wall tension reduction apparatus on a human heart having a plurality of chambers, comprising the steps of: extending a hollow needle through at least one chamber the heart such that each end of the needle is external to the chamber; providing a tension member having first and second ends, and a flexible leader connected to the first end of the tension member; connecting the second end of the tension member to a first atraumatic pad; advancing the leader through the needle from one end of the needle to the other; further advancing the leader until the first atraumatric pad engages the heart and the first end of the tension member is external to the at least one chamber; and connecting the first end of the tension member to a second atraumatic pad such that the second atraumatic pad engages the heart.

Claim 22

17 . The method of placing a heart wall tension reduction apparatus on a human heart having a plurality of chambers, comprising the steps of: extending a hollow needle through at least one chamber the heart such that each end of the needle is external to the chamber; providing a tension member having first and second ends, and a flexible leader connected to the first end of the tension member; connecting the second end of the tension member to a first atraumatic pad; advancing the leader through the needle from one end of the needle to the other; further advancing the leader until the first atraumatric pad engages the heart and the first end of the tension member is external to the at least one chamber; and connecting the first end of the tension member to a second atraumatic pad such that the second atraumatic pad engages the heart.

Claim 23

18 . The method in accordance with claim 17 , wherein the length of the tension member is such that the at least one chamber of the heart is compressed between the first and second atraumatic pads.

Claim 24

19 . The method of placing a heart wall tension reduction apparatus on a heart having a plurality of chambers, comprising the steps of: extending a guide member through at least one chamber of the heart such that each end of the guide member is external to the chamber; providing a tension member having at least one lumen extending therethrough; extending a portion of the guide member through the lumen; advancing the tension member on the guide member such that a first end of the tension member is disposed to one side of and external to the at least one chamber, and a second end of the tension member is disposed to an opposite side of and external to the at least one chamber; and connecting a first atraumatic pad to the first end and a second atraumatic pad to the second end of the tension member.

Claim 25

19 . The method of placing a heart wall tension reduction apparatus on a heart having a plurality of chambers, comprising the steps of: extending a guide member through at least one chamber of the heart such that each end of the guide member is external to the chamber; providing a tension member having at least one lumen extending therethrough; extending a portion of the guide member through the lumen; advancing the tension member on the guide member such that a first end of the tension member is disposed to one side of and external to the at least one chamber, and a second end of the tension member is disposed to an opposite side of and external to the at least one chamber; and connecting a first atraumatic pad to the first end and a second atraumatic pad to the second end of the tension member.

Claim 26

20 . The method in accordance with claim 19 , wherein the length of the tension member is such that the at least one chamber of the heart is compressed between the first and second atraumatic pads.

Claim 27

21 . A method in accordance with claim 19 , wherein the guide member includes a needle.

Claim 28

22 . The method in accordance with claim 19 , wherein the guide member includes a guidewire.

Claim 29

23 . The method of placing a heart wall tension reduction apparatus on a heart having a plurality of chamber comprising the steps of: extending a needle having a flexible tension member releasably connected thereto through at least one chamber of the heart such that opposite ends of the tension member are external to the chamber and exposed on opposite sides thereof; removing the needle from the tension member; and connecting a first atraumatic pad to one end of the tension member and a second atraumatic pad to the opposite end of the tension member.

Claim 30

23 . The method of placing a heart wall tension reduction apparatus on a heart having a plurality of chamber comprising the steps of: extending a needle having a flexible tension member releasably connected thereto through at least one chamber of the heart such that opposite ends of the tension member are external to the chamber and exposed on opposite sides thereof; removing the needle from the tension member; and connecting a first atraumatic pad to one end of the tension member and a second atraumatic pad to the opposite end of the tension member.

Claim 31

24 . A method in accordance with claim 23 , wherein the length of the tension member is such that the at least one chamber of the heart is compressed between the first and second atraumatic pads.