Heart wall tension reduction apparatus
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.
1 - 14 . (canceled)
15 . A method of treating a heart, comprising:
providing a C-shaped device having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end includes a first anchoring structure and the second end includes a second anchoring structure;
implanting the C-shaped device adjacent an external heart wall; and
passively compressing a heart structure with the C-shaped device, throughout a cardiac cycle.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the C-shaped device does not extend completely around the heart.
17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the first and second anchoring structures are atraumatic.
18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein implanting the C-shaped device adjacent an external heart wall includes implanting the C-shaped device outside of a heart chamber.
19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein compressing a heart structure with the C-shaped device includes altering a dimension of the heart structure.
20 . A method of altering a dimension of a portion of a heart, comprising:
providing a device having a first end and a second end;
implanting the device adjacent an external heart wall; and
passively compressing a heart structure disposed between the first and second ends of the device, throughout a cardiac cycle.
21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein implanting the device adjacent an external heart wall includes implanting the device outside of a heart chamber.
22 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the device includes a substantially semi-circular shape.
23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the device is C-shaped.
24 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the first end includes a first anchoring structure and the second end includes a second anchoring structure.
25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the first and second anchoring structures are atraumatic.
26 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the first and second ends are biased towards one another.
27 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the dimension is one of a radius or cross-sectional area.
28 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the heart structure is a heart wall.
29 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the first end is configured to be in contact with a first location of the heart structure, and the second end is configured to be in contact with a second location of the heart structure different from the first location.
30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the first end is configured to urge the first location towards the second location.
31 . A method of treating a heart comprising:
providing an arcuate device having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end includes a first anchoring structure and the second end includes a second anchoring structure;
implanting the arcuate device adjacent an external heart wall, wherein the arcuate device is implanted external to a heart chamber; and
passively compressing a heart wall with the arcuate device, throughout a cardiac cycle, wherein passively compressing the heart wall alters the geometry of at least one heart chamber.
32 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the arcuate device includes a substantially C-shaped configuration.
33 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the first and second anchoring structures are atraumatic.
34 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the arcuate device does not extend completely around the heart.