Cardiac compression device having passive and active chambers
The present invention provides methods, systems, kits, and cardiac compression devices that have both passive chambers and active chambers to improve heart function.
1 . A method to improve diastolic recoil of a heart using a direct cardiac contact compression device comprising the steps of:
providing a direct cardiac compression device, wherein the direct cardiac compression device comprises an inner passive chambers, and a passive port for depositing a passive fluid in the inner passive chambers, wherein the inner passive chambers conform to the end-diastolic shape of the heart; an outer active chambers, and an active fluid disposed in the outer active chambers; an input connection in fluid communication with the outer active chambers to ingress the active fluid into the outer active chambers, and an output connection in fluid communication with the outer active chambers to egress the fluid from the outer active chambers, wherein the active fluid presses on the inner passive chambers to compress the heart;
implanting the direct cardiac compression device around a heart;
filling the inner passive chambers with passive fluid to cause the inner passive chambers to fit to the heart while not impeding heart function or constraining the heart when the direct cardiac contact compression device is inactive,
periodically pressurizing the outer active chambers in synchrony with heart contraction to expand the outer active chambers, thereby applying force to the inner passive chambers to compress the heart; and
periodically depressurizing the outer active chambers during recoil to contract the inner passive chambers and move the inner passive chambers away from the heart.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of connecting a pneumatic driver to the input connection and the output connection to pressurize the outer active chambers to compress the heart and depressurize the outer active chambers to aid in filling the heart.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of using the passive port for adjusting a volume of the passive fluid.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the passive fluid is a liquid, a gas, a gel, or a polymer.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the passive fluid is saline.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the inner passive chambers are contoured to surround the heart operable to actively promote a contraction strain pattern characterized by non-inversion or lack of gross perturbation of the curvature on a diseased or damaged myocardium that promotes beneficial growth and remodeling of the myocardium.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising a shell surrounding the outer member.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising one or more components designed to provide adjustable passive support, active assist, or a combination of active assist and passive support to a damaged or diseased heart.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the inner passive chambers are adapted to form a pneumatic lock with the heart surface.
10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising one or more structural elements disposed about the direct cardiac compression device.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the input connection and the output connection are a single connection.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the inner passive chambers comprising an inner membrane adapted to surround the heart, a connecting membrane in communication with the inner membrane, one or more passive dividers located between the inner membrane and the connecting membrane to form inner passive chambers.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the inner passive chambers further comprising one or more additional inner passive dividers positioned between the inner passive membrane and the connecting membrane to form 2 or more inner passive chambers.
14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the passive dividers between the inner membrane and the connecting membrane are a series of clock-wise spiral lines when looking down to a location of an apex of the heart, thereby complementing a strain pattern of a muscle of the heart by allowing the apex of the heart to twist during heart compression.
15 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of monitoring device performance using a pressure signal of the passive fluid.
16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising a step of adjusting timing of pressurizing or depressurizing the outer active chambers or adjusting supplied pressure for pressurizing the active chambers in response to monitoring device performance using the pressure signal of the passive fluid.