Heart wall tension reduction apparatus and method
View Patent ↗An apparatus for treatment of a failing heart by reducing the wall tension therein. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a tension member for drawing at least two walls of a heart chamber toward each other. Methods for placing the apparatus on the heart are also provided.
1. A surgical procedure comprising:
advancing an elongate member towards a target location on a patient's heart, wherein the elongate member includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween;
inserting the distal end of the elongate member through a heart wall and into a heart chamber;
introducing an instrument and an element through the elongate member for installing the element; and
installing the element in contact with first and second spaced apart portions of the heart, wherein the element traverses a chamber of the heart, and wherein all portions of the heart chamber remain in non-contacting fluid communication when the element is installed.
2. The surgical procedure according to claim 1 , wherein the chamber is a left ventricle of the heart.
3. The surgical procedure according to claim 1 , wherein the element is secured to the first and second spaced apart portions of the heart.
4. The surgical procedure according to claim 1 , wherein the element includes a generally elongate member attached to each of the first and second spaced apart portions of the heart.
5. The surgical procedure according to claim 1 , wherein one of the first and second spaced apart portions of the heart includes an external heart wall.
6. The surgical procedure according to claim 1 , further comprising exerting tension on the element to reduce a dimension of the heart.
7. The surgical procedure according to claim 1 , further comprising exerting tension on the element to draw the first and second spaced apart portions of the heart toward one another.
8. The surgical procedure according to claim 1 , wherein the element includes a first end and a second end, and one of the first and second ends is anchored to an external heart wall by an anchor.
9. A surgical procedure comprising:
advancing an elongate member towards a target location on a patient's heart, wherein the elongate member includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween;
inserting the distal end of the elongate member through a heart wall and into a heart chamber;
introducing an instrument and an element through the elongate member for installing the element; and
installing the element in contact with first and second spaced apart portions of the heart, wherein the element includes a generally elongate member attached to each of the first and second spaced apart portions of the heart, and wherein all portions of the heart chamber remain in non-contacting fluid communication when the element is installed.
10. A surgical procedure comprising:
advancing an elongate member towards a target location on a patient's heart, wherein the elongate member includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween;
inserting the distal end of the elongate member through a heart wall and into a heart chamber;
introducing an instrument and an element through the elongate member for installing the element;
installing the element in contact with first and second spaced apart portions of the heart; and
exerting tension on the element to improve heart function,
wherein all portions of the heart chamber remain in non-contacting fluid communication when the element is installed.