Distensible knitted wire mesh for a cardiac sleeve
View Patent ↗Heart failure (HF) is a global pandemic affecting at least 26 million people worldwide. Thus, methods and devices that reduce the clinical and economic burden of HF are critical. The present invention features an adjustable cardiac sleeve comprising a basal ring structure and an apical hub couple together, wherein the basal ring structure comprises a plurality of interconnected loops made from a distensible wire.
1 . An adjustable cardiac sleeve ( 100 ) comprising:
a) a basal ring structure ( 130 ) comprising a plurality of interconnected loops interlaced with one another, wherein a first loop end ( 131 ) is connected to a second loop end ( 132 ) of the plurality of loops to form a ring;
b) an apical hub ( 120 ) coupled to the basal ring structure ( 130 ) by a plurality of non-overlapping, helically-arranged fibers; and
c) an actuator ( 140 ) operably connected to the apical hub ( 120 ), wherein the actuator ( 140 ) is configured to compress a heart by actively twisting the plurality of non-overlapping, helically-arranged fibers:
wherein the adjustable cardiac sleeve ( 100 ) is attached to a surface of the heart via an anchoring mechanism.
2 . The cardiac sleeve ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein the basal ring structure ( 130 ) and the apical hub ( 120 ) are further coupled to each other by a plurality of adjacent ring structures, each ring structure comprising a plurality of interconnected loops interlaced with one another, wherein adjacent rows of ring structures are interlaced with one another.
3 . The cardiac sleeve ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of interconnected loops is made from a distensible wire, wherein the distensible wire comprises a super elastic wire.
4 . The cardiac sleeve ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of interconnected loops is connected via a connection component.
5 . The cardiac sleeve ( 100 ) of claim 4 , wherein the connection component is welded, soldered, or crimped or wherein the connection component is filled with an adhesive.
6 . The cardiac sleeve ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of interlaced loops is secured with twists, or wherein the plurality of interlaced loops forms crossing points.
7 . The cardiac sleeve ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein the cardiac sleeve ( 100 ) is adjustable to the size of a heart.
8 . The cardiac sleeve ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein each loop of the plurality of interconnected loops of the basal ring structure ( 130 ) is adjustable and/or expandable.
9 . The cardiac sleeve ( 100 ) of claim 8 , wherein each loop of the plurality of interconnected loops of the basal ring structure ( 130 ) is circular.
10 . The cardiac sleeve ( 100 ) of claim 8 , wherein each loop of the plurality of interconnected loops of the basal ring structure ( 130 ) expands to an elliptical shape.
11 . The cardiac sleeve ( 100 ) of claim 1 , further comprising a membrane.
12 . The cardiac sleeve ( 100 ) of claim 11 , wherein the membrane partially or fully covers the cardiac sleeve ( 100 ).
13 . The cardiac sleeve ( 100 ) of claim 12 , wherein the membrane comprises natural or synthetic fiber.
14 . The cardiac sleeve ( 100 ) of claim 11 , wherein the membrane allows the cardiac sleeve ( 100 ) to avoid direct contact with a heart.
15 . The cardiac sleeve ( 100 ) of claim 1 , further comprising a drive shaft ( 150 ) connecting the actuator ( 140 ) to the apical hub ( 120 ).
16 . The cardiac sleeve ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein the cardiac sleeve ( 100 ) is configured to externally wrap over the epicardium of a native, intact heart.
17 . The cardiac sleeve ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein the basal ring structure is attached to the heart by an anchoring mechanism.
18 . A method of treating heart failure in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising:
a) obtaining a cardiac sleeve ( 100 ) comprising:
i) a basal ring structure ( 130 ) comprising a plurality of interconnected loops interlaced with one another, wherein a first loop end ( 131 ) is connected to a second loop end ( 132 ) of the plurality of interconnected loops to form a ring:
ii) an apical hub ( 120 ) coupled to the basal ring structure ( 130 ) by a plurality of non-overlapping, helically-arranged fibers; and
iii) an actuator ( 140 ) operably connected to the apical hub ( 120 );
b) externally wrapping the cardiac sleeve ( 100 ) over an epicardium of a native, intact heart of the subject, and
c) attaching the cardiac sleeve to the epicardium of the native, intact heart via an anchoring mechanism,
d) operating the actuator ( 140 ) to cycle the cardiac sleeve ( 100 ) between a diastolic position and a systolic position.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of non-overlapping, helically-arranged fibers are configured to compress the heart when the cardiac sleeve is in the systolic position.