Heart wall tension reduction apparatus and method
View Patent ↗Devices and methods for treatment of a failing heart by reducing the heart wall stress. The device can be one which reduces wall stress throughout the cardiac cycle or only a portion of the cardiac cycle.
1. A method for improving the function of a heart, the method comprising:
positioning a passive heart device relative to an external heart wall, the device including a wrap, a plurality of elongate anchors, and at least one flexible member extending from one of the plurality of elongate anchors;
encircling a portion of the heart with the wrap, wherein the portion does not include an apex of the heart; and
securing the device to the external heart wall by disposing a portion of the flexible member in heart tissue.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of exerting a compressive force on the external heart wall.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein exerting a compressive force on the external heart wall alters a geometric configuration of the heart.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the geometric configuration is a shape of a heart chamber.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the heart chamber is a left ventricle of the heart.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein encircling a portion of the heart with the wrap includes fully encircling the heart.