Method and apparatus for assisting a heart to pump blood

• Main Authors: LEVIN HOWARD R, EASTERBROOK, III WILLAIM A, HOWANSKY MARK S, REINHARDT ROBERT W, GUDIS LUDMILA, TSITLIK JOSHUA E, ZISELSON NAUM, SHERMAN CRAIG W, MICHELMAN PAUL
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 29.05.2001
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROMTHE BODY; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE

A ventricular cuff is designed to assist a heart to pump blood by applying uniform pressure to a majority portion of an exterior ventricular surface of the heart. A heart engaging structure is preferably provided for releasably engaging the heart to hold the heart in place relative to the cuff. The ventricular cuff includes an outer shell, an inflatable inner bladder and a fastener assembly. The heart engaging structure and ventricular cuff define an upwardly opening chamber sized for receiving a heart. The bladder has an opening for communication with a source of fluid under pressure so that the bladder is cyclically inflated and deflated at a predetermined rate to assist the ventricles of the heart to properly contract.