Cardiac disease treatment and device

1. A device for treating cardiac disease of a heart having an upper portion and a lower portion divided by an A-V groove, the device comprising:

a. a jacket of flexible material defining a volume between an upper end and a lower end, the jacket adapted to be secured to the heart and adapted to be adjusted on the heart to snugly conform to an external geometry of the heart and permit substantially unimpeded contraction of the heart during systole while maintaining contact with said heart throughout a cardiac cycle;

b. a delivery source in association with the jacket for placement therewith on the heart and for the delivery of one or more therapeutic agents to a target surface of the heart following placement of the jacket on the heart;

c. said delivery source provided directly on said jacket and positioned on said jacket to oppose an exterior surface of said heart

d. said delivery source adapted for passive delivery of said therapeutic agents to said heart.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the flexible material is sufficiently flexible to gather excess amounts of the material following placement of the jacket over the heart to snugly conform the material to an external geometry of the heart.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein the flexible material is selected from polytetrafluoroethylene, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, polypropylene, polyester and stainless steel.

4. The device according to claim 1 wherein the jacket surrounds the lower portion of the heart.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein the jacket surrounds the upper portion of the heart.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein the device provides localized delivery of one or more therapeutic agents to a target area on the surface of the heart.

7. The device according to claim 1 wherein the device provides bi-directional delivery of one or more therapeutic agents to the surface of the heart and an area surrounding the heart.

8. The device according to claim 1 wherein the one or more therapeutic agents comprise one or more pharmacological agents.

9. The device according to claim 1 wherein the one or more therapeutic agents comprise cellular material.

10. The device according to claim 9 wherein the cellular material comprises myocytes.

11. A device for treating cardiac disease of a heart having an upper portion and a lower portion divided by an A–V groove, the device comprising:

a. a jacket of flexible, elastic material defining a volume between an upper end and a lower end, the jacket adapted to be secured to the heart and adapted to be adjusted on the heart to snugly conform to an external geometry of the heart and permit substantially unimpeded contraction of the heart during systole while maintaining contact with said heart throughout a cardiac cycle; and

b. a delivery source comprising a coating on the jacket for the delivery of one or more therapeutic agents to a target surface of the heart following placement of the jacket on the heart,

c. said delivery source provided directly on said jacket and positioned on said jacket to oppose an exterior surface of said heart;

d. said delivery source adapted for passive delivery of said therapeutic agents to said heart.

12. The device according to claim 11 wherein the coating comprises a matrix material and the therapeutic agent.

13. The device according to claim 12 wherein the matrix material is biodegradable.

14. The device according to claim 1 wherein the delivery source comprises a separable element from the jacket.

15. The device according to claim 14 wherein the separable element is a bladder or a patch.

16. The device according to claim 14 wherein the separable element is a bioadhesive.

17. The device according to claim 1 wherein the jacket actively assists in delivery of the therapeutic agent to the surface of the heart.

18. A method for treating cardiac disease of a heart having an upper portion and a lower portion divided by an A–V groove, the method comprising:

a. surgically accessing the heart;

b. applying a treatment device on the heart, the device comprising:

1) a jacket of flexible, elastic material defining a volume between an upper end and a lower end, the jacket adapted to be secured to the heart and adapted to be adjusted on the heart to snugly conform to an external geometry of the heart and permit substantially unimpeded contraction of the heart during systole while maintaining contact with said heart throughout a cardiac cycle; and

2) a delivery source in association with the jacket for placement therewith on the heart and for the delivery of one or more therapeutic agents to a target surface of the heart following placement of the jacket on the heart;

3) said delivery source provided directly on said jacket and positioned on said jacket to oppose an epicardial surface of said heart;

4) said delivery source adapted for passive delivery of said therapeutic agents to said heart;

c. securing the treatment device to the heart; and

d. surgically closing access to the heart while leaving the treatment device on the heart.

19. The method according to claim 18 wherein the jacket actively assists in delivery of the one or more therapeutic agents to the surface of the heart.

20. A method for providing controlled and sustained administration of one or more therapeutic agents effective in treating cardiac disease, the method comprising surgically implanting a sustained therapeutic agent delivery system at a desired location on the heart, the therapeutic agent delivery system comprising:

a. a jacket of flexible, elastic material defining a volume between an upper end and a lower end, the jacket adapted to be secured to the heart and adapted to be adjusted on the heart to snugly conform to an external geometry of the heart and permit substantially unimpeded contraction of the heart during systole while maintaining contact with said heart throughout a cardiac cycle; and

b. a delivery source in association with the jacket for placement therewith on the heart and for the delivery of one or more therapeutic agents to a target surface of the heart following placement of the jacket on the heart;

c. said delivery source provided directly on said jacket and positioned on said jacket to oppose an exterior surface of said heart;

d. said delivery source adapted for passive delivery of said therapeutic agents to said heart.

21. The method according to claim 20 wherein the jacket actively assists in delivery of the therapeutic agent to the surface of the heart.

22. The device of claim 1 , wherein said jacket comprises a knit material and said delivery source occupies the interstitial spaces between the knit materials.

23. The device of claim 22 , wherein said delivery source comprises a biodegradable space fill material that comprises a biologically active compatible polymer, a biodegradable polymer matrix, or a combination thereof that contains the therapeutic agent.

24. The device of claim 1 , wherein the jacket material serves as a scaffold onto which a matrix material comprising the therapeutic agent is attached.

25. The device of claim 24 , wherein said jacket material is a knit material.