US6685627B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Modification of properties and geometry of heart tissue to influence heart function
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 2001-11-19
•
Granted: 2004-02-03
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Expires: 2021-11-19
Abstract
Abstract Materials, devices and methods for the treatment of congestive heart failure are disclosed. In these methods, the volume of the left ventricle is reduced, thereby increasing the efficiency of the pumping action of the heart. Volume reduction is accomplished by introduction of biocompatible materials into the wall of the left ventricle, or into the ventricle itself. Suitable biocompatible materials include those that undergo a phase transition within the ventricle or within the wall of the ventricle, and are thereby converted from a substantially liquid state to a substantially solid state. Such materials also include those which increase in volume during the transition from the liquid state to the solid state. Also disclosed is a method for ventricular geometry reduction wherein flexible, elastic bands are attached to the external surface of the heart to effect a decrease in the volume of the left ventricle. Finally, disclosed are devices including catheters and elastic bands that are usable in these treatments.
Inventors
- 👤 Swaminathan Jayaraman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 03:32
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/24; A61F2/2478; A61F2/2481; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/00234; A61B17/12; A61B17/12022; A61B17/12099; A61B17/12122; A61B17/12131; A61B17/12168; A61B17/12172; A61B17/12181; A61B17/12186; A61B17/1219; A61L; A61L27/00; A61L27/14; A61L27/22; A61L27/222; A61L27/227; A61L27/24; A61L27/50; A61L27/52; A61L27/56; A61L31/00; A61L31/14; A61L31/16; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00039; A61B2017/00044; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00243; A61L2300/00; A61L2300/20; A61L2300/258; A61L2300/40; A61L2300/412; A61M; A61M2210/00; A61M2210/12; A61M2210/125
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 51
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for treating heart failure to improve cardiac performance comprising: providing at least one band; compressing a human heart comprising a left atrium, a right atrium, a left ventricle and a right ventricle during systole and decreasing internal volume of at least one of the left atrium, right atrium, left ventricle, and right ventricle during systole to increase ejection fraction of the heart by placing said at least one band upon an outer surface of the human heart.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for treating heart failure to improve cardiac performance comprising: providing at least one band; compressing a human heart comprising a left atrium, a right atrium, a left ventricle and a right ventricle during systole and decreasing internal volume of at least one of the left atrium, right atrium, left ventricle, and right ventricle during systole to increase ejection fraction of the heart by placing said at least one band upon an outer surface of the human heart.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
95 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one band is elastic and stretched before placement around the heart. 3 .The method of claim 2 , further comprising: providing at least one cross-link between a plurality of the at least one elastic band proximate the outer surface of the heart, wherein the cross-linked bands are disposed substantially parallel to one another and the cross-linked bands are of varying diameter arranged in order of descending size from the atria toward the ventricles to form a conical structure on the outer surface of the heart.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: decreasing the internal volume of at least the left ventricle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the band is made of a resilient synthetic biocompatible material responsive to flexing movements of the heart and resistant to fracture upon long term flexing.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for treating heart failure to improve cardiac performance comprising: placing at least one band upon an outer surface of a human heart comprising a left atrium, a right atrium, a left ventricle and a right ventricle, wherein the at least one band compresses the heart and decreases internal volume of at least one of the left atrium, right atrium, left ventricle, and right ventricle; and delivering into the left ventricle at least one filler material to decrease internal volume of the left ventricle before placement of the at least one band upon the outer surface.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for treating heart failure to improve cardiac performance comprising: placing at least one band upon an outer surface of a human heart comprising a left atrium, a right atrium, a left ventricle and a right ventricle, wherein the at least one band compresses the heart and decreases internal volume of at least one of the left atrium, right atrium, left ventricle, and right ventricle; and delivering into the left ventricle at least one filler material to decrease internal volume of the left ventricle before placement of the at least one band upon the outer surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein the at least one filler material comprises at least one of genetically modified therapeutic agents and growth factors.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for treating heart failure to improve cardiac performance comprising: placing at least one band upon an outer surface of a human heart comprising a left atrium, a right atrium, a left ventricle and a right ventricle, wherein the at least one band is adjustable in size and the at least one band compresses the heart and decreases internal volume of at least one of the left atrium, right atrium, left ventricle, and right ventricle; and monitoring the action of the heart and adjusting the size of the at least one band according to the monitored action of the heart.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for treating heart failure to improve cardiac performance comprising: placing at least one band upon an outer surface of a human heart comprising a left atrium, a right atrium, a left ventricle and a right ventricle, wherein the at least one band is adjustable in size and the at least one band compresses the heart and decreases internal volume of at least one of the left atrium, right atrium, left ventricle, and right ventricle; and monitoring the action of the heart and adjusting the size of the at least one band according to the monitored action of the heart.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for treating heart failure to improve cardiac performance comprising: providing at least one band comprising means for conductance of electrical signals to and from cardiac tissue; compressing a human heart comprising a left atrium, a right atrium, a left ventricle and a right ventricle and decreasing internal volume of at least one of the left atrium, right atrium, left ventricle, and right ventricle by placing said at least one band upon an outer surface of the human heart.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for treating heart failure to improve cardiac performance comprising: providing at least one band comprising means for conductance of electrical signals to and from cardiac tissue; compressing a human heart comprising a left atrium, a right atrium, a left ventricle and a right ventricle and decreasing internal volume of at least one of the left atrium, right atrium, left ventricle, and right ventricle by placing said at least one band upon an outer surface of the human heart.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for treating heart failure to improve cardiac performance comprising: providing at least one band comprising means for delivery of drugs to the heart; compressing a human heart comprising a left atrium, a right atrium, a left ventricle and a right ventricle decreasing internal volume of at least one of the left atrium, right atrium, left ventricle, and right ventricle by placing said at least one band upon an outer surface of the human heart.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for treating heart failure to improve cardiac performance comprising: providing at least one band comprising means for delivery of drugs to the heart; compressing a human heart comprising a left atrium, a right atrium, a left ventricle and a right ventricle decreasing internal volume of at least one of the left atrium, right atrium, left ventricle, and right ventricle by placing said at least one band upon an outer surface of the human heart.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein the drugs include at least one of genetically modified therapeutic agents and growth factors.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for treating heart failure to improve cardiac performance comprising: providing at least one band, which is made of a wire and is adapted to be attached to an outer surface of a heart by an attaching means selected from the group consisting of sutures, clamps, biocompatible adhesives, and combinations thereof; compressing a human heart comprising a left atrium, a right atrium, a left ventricle and a right ventricle and decreasing internal volume of at least one of the left atrium, right atrium, left ventricle, and right ventriclel by placing said at least one band upon the outer surface of the human heart; and attaching said at least one band to the outer surface of the heart with said attaching means.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for treating heart failure to improve cardiac performance comprising: providing at least one band, which is made of a wire and is adapted to be attached to an outer surface of a heart by an attaching means selected from the group consisting of sutures, clamps, biocompatible adhesives, and combinations thereof; compressing a human heart comprising a left atrium, a right atrium, a left ventricle and a right ventricle and decreasing internal volume of at least one of the left atrium, right atrium, left ventricle, and right ventriclel by placing said at least one band upon the outer surface of the human heart; and attaching said at least one band to the outer surface of the heart with said attaching means.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
88 words
A device for treatment of congestive heart failure comprising: at least one band configured and dimensioned to apply force to an outer surface of a human heart comprising a left atrium, a right atrium, a left ventricle and a right ventricle, the band having a size effective to compress the heart during systole, wherein the at least one band is made of at least one biocompatible component selected from the group consisting of metallic materials, synthetic elastomeric materials, rubber materials, biological materials, stent graft materials and combinations thereof.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
88 words
A device for treatment of congestive heart failure comprising: at least one band configured and dimensioned to apply force to an outer surface of a human heart comprising a left atrium, a right atrium, a left ventricle and a right ventricle, the band having a size effective to compress the heart during systole, wherein the at least one band is made of at least one biocompatible component selected from the group consisting of metallic materials, synthetic elastomeric materials, rubber materials, biological materials, stent graft materials and combinations thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the at least one biocompatible component is electrically conductive.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 13 , wherein the at least one band is made of wire and is constructed in the form of a stent.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 15 , wherein at least a surface portion of the stent is covered with a biocompatible elastomeric synthetic material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 16 , wherein the biocompatible elastomeric synthetic material is a biocompatible elastic biological tissue.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 17 , wherein the biocompatible elastic biological tissue is muscle tissue.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 13 , wherein the device is constructed in the form of a cup-shaped stent that is adjustable in size.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
36 words
The device of claim 13 , wherein the at least one band is adjustable in diameter, configurable in a compact state, and releasable in vivo for placement around at least the left ventricle of the heart.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
73 words
The device of claim 13 , further comprising: at least one cross-link coupling a plurality of the at least one band to form a conical structure, wherein the at least one band is elastic and stretchable prior to placement around the heart, wherein the cross-linked bands are disposed substantially parallel to one another and the cross-linked bands are of varying diameter arranged in order of descending size from the atria toward the ventricles.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device of claim 13 , wherein the at least one band is made of resilient synthetic biocompatible material responsive to flexing movements of the heart and resistant to fracture upon long term flexing.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
44 words
A method for treating heart failure comprising: disposing at least one band proximate an outer surface of a human heart, wherein the at least one band continuously applies pressure to the heart and decreases internal volume of at least one chamber thereof during systole.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
44 words
A method for treating heart failure comprising: disposing at least one band proximate an outer surface of a human heart, wherein the at least one band continuously applies pressure to the heart and decreases internal volume of at least one chamber thereof during systole.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 23 , further comprising: coupling a plurality of the at least one band with at least one cross-link.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 23 , further comprising: forming a conical structure by linking a plurality of the at least one band with at least one cross-link.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 23 , further comprising: adjusting the size of the at least one band.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 23 , wherein the at least one band only extends proximate the left ventricle.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 23 , wherein the at least one band forms a ring extending only around the left ventricle.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 23 , further comprising: securing the at least one band to heart tissue.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
54 words
A method for treating heart failure comprising: disposing at least one band proximate an outer surface of a human heart, wherein the at least one band applies pressure to the heart and decreases internal volume of at least one chamber thereof; and inserting at least one filler material in a chamber of the heart.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
54 words
A method for treating heart failure comprising: disposing at least one band proximate an outer surface of a human heart, wherein the at least one band applies pressure to the heart and decreases internal volume of at least one chamber thereof; and inserting at least one filler material in a chamber of the heart.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 30 , wherein the at least one filler material comprises is selected from the group consisting of genetically modified therapeutic agents and growth factors.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for treating heart failure comprising: disposing at least one band proximate an outer surface of a human heart, wherein the at least one band applies pressure to the heart and decreases internal volume of at least one chamber thereof; adjusting a size of a at least one band, wherein the size of the at least one band is adjusted in response to the monitored action; and monitoring the action of the heart.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for treating heart failure comprising: disposing at least one band proximate an outer surface of a human heart, wherein the at least one band applies pressure to the heart and decreases internal volume of at least one chamber thereof; adjusting a size of a at least one band, wherein the size of the at least one band is adjusted in response to the monitored action; and monitoring the action of the heart.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
49 words
A device for use in cardiac treatment comprising: a first member for applying compressive force to a heart proximate an outer surface thereof to constrict at least one chamber thereof, the member having a size effective to compress the heart during systole, wherein the first member comprises biocompatible material.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
49 words
A device for use in cardiac treatment comprising: a first member for applying compressive force to a heart proximate an outer surface thereof to constrict at least one chamber thereof, the member having a size effective to compress the heart during systole, wherein the first member comprises biocompatible material.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 33 , wherein the first member is ring-shaped.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
37 words
The device of claim 34 , further comprising: an additional member; and at least one cross-link member; wherein the first member and the additional member are coupled to each other by the at least one cross-link member.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 35 , wherein the at least one cross-link member is disposed transverse to the first and additional members.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 35 , wherein the first member, additional member, and at least one cross-link member are configured and dimensioned to form a conical structure.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 33 , wherein the first member is configured to form an arc.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 33 , wherein the first member is elastically extendable.
Claim 50
Independent Claim
44 words
A method for treating heart failure comprising: disposing at least one band around an outer surface of a human heart, wherein the at least one band elastically maintains pressure on the heart and decreases internal volume of at least one chamber thereof during systole.
Claim 51
Independent Claim
44 words
A method for treating heart failure comprising: disposing at least one band around an outer surface of a human heart, wherein the at least one band elastically maintains pressure on the heart and decreases internal volume of at least one chamber thereof during systole.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-02-02 | 2007-08-04 | 2008-02-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-02-02 | 2011-08-04 | 2012-02-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
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