Method and Apparatus for Minimally Invasive Direct Mechanical Ventricular Actuation

1 . A device for assisting the function of a heart in a body comprising:

a. a cup-shaped shell having a wall with an outer surface and an inner surface, the wall extending from an apex of the shell to a rim;

b. a collapsible cage disposed within the cup-shaped shell, the cage having a plurality of struts extending along the inner surface of the shell; and

c. a liner comprising an outer surface, an inner surface, an upper region joined to the cup-shaped shell, an elastic central region, and a lower region joined to the cup-shaped shell forming a cavity between the liner and the shell.

2 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a. a first fitting in fluid communication with the interior of the cup-shaped shell; and

b. a second fitting in fluid communication with the cavity between the liner and the shell.

3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first fitting at the apex of the cup-shaped shell is comprised of a tubular body, and a passageway extending from a distal end of the first fitting to the proximal end of the first fitting.

4 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the first fitting is formed integrally with the liner.

5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first fitting and the second fitting are formed as a single unitary fitting.

6 . The device of claim 5 , wherein the unitary fitting is comprised of a tubular body comprising a first passageway and a second passageway.

7 . The device of claim 6 , wherein the unitary fitting is formed integrally with the liner.

8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the liner further comprises a tapered seal extending inwardly from the upper region toward the longitudinal axis of the cup-shaped shell.

9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the cup-shaped support cage is joined to the cup-shaped shell by adhesive.

10 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the cup-shaped support cage is joined to the cup-shaped shell by a bonding layer on the inner surface of the cup-shaped shell.

11 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the number of the struts of the collapsible cage is between 8 and 32.

12 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the number of the radial struts of the cup-shaped support cage is 16.

13 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the distal ends of the radial struts extend to the rim of the cup-shaped shell.

14 . The device of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the radial struts of the cup-shaped support cage comprises an engagement feature at the distal end of at least one of the radial struts.

15 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the rim of the shell is comprised of an annular chamber.

16 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is collapsible along a longitudinal axis to a diameter of less than about 4 cm.

17 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is collapsible along a longitudinal axis to a diameter of less than about 2 cm.

18 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the struts of the collapsible cage are formed of an alloy selected from the group consisting of titanium and alloys thereof; tantalum and alloys thereof, stainless steel, carbon fiber composites, aramid fiber composites, and glass fiber composites.

19 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the polymer-fiber composite of the cup-shaped shell is a combination of polyester fiber and polyurethane polymer.

20 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the fiber of the polymer fiber composite is wound circumferentially around the shell to form a fiber matrix of substantially uniform fiber density.

21 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the fiber of the polymer fiber composite is chopped fiber forming a fiber matrix of substantially uniform fiber density.

22 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the fiber of the polymer fiber composite is formed of a woven mesh fabric.

23 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the liner is a silastic elastomer.

24 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the shell has a diameter of about 80 to about 140 millimeters and wherein the distance along the longitudinal axis from the apex to the rim of the shell is approximately equal to the diameter of the shell.

25 . A device for assisting the function of a heart in a body comprising:

a. a cup-shaped shell having a wall with an outer surface and an inner surface, the wall extending from an apex of the shell to a rim;

b. a collapsible cage disposed within the cup-shaped shell, the cage having a plurality of struts extending along the inner surface of the shell;

c. a liner comprising an upper region joined to the rim of the cup-shaped shell, an elastic central region including an inflatable cavity, and a lower region joined to the cup-shaped shell;

d. a first fitting in fluid communication with the interior of the cup-shaped shell; and

e. a second fitting in communication with the inflatable cavity in the elastic central region of the liner.

26 . A method of deploying a device of claim 1 , on a heart in a body comprising:

a. collapsing the shell from an open cup-shape to a compact longitudinally collapsed shape;

b. inserting the collapsed shell into a deployment tool;

c. making an incision in the body proximate the heart;

d. inserting the tubular deployment tool through the incision;

e. displacing the collapsed shell from the deployment tool, and restoring the open cup-shaped configuration; and

f. positioning the shell over a heart disposed within a body.

27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the deployment tool comprises a hollow tubular portion.

28 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the deployment tool comprises a cutting device on a leading edge of the tubular portion.