Heart help device, system and method
An implantable heart help device adapted for implantation in a human patient is provided. The device comprising a fixating member adapted to fixate said device to a part of the human body comprising bone. Further a method of fixating an implantable heart help device in a human patient is provided. The method comprises the steps of: cutting the skin of said human patient, dissecting an area of the body comprising bone, and fixating said implantable heart help device to said part of the body comprising bone.
1. An implantable device for improving function of a heart of a patient by applying an external force on the heart, said implantable device comprising;
at least one heart contacting organ adapted to periodically exerting a force onto a heart muscle following heart contractions and adding force thereto,
a drive unit adapted to create kinetic movement to be used by the heart contacting organ,
a fixation device adapted to be fixated to human bone and to fixate the drive unit to the human bone so as to allow said drive unit and the kinetic movement created by the drive unit to get necessary contra force from the human bone, and
a respiration movement compensator positioned between the drive unit and the heart contacting organ so as to transfer kinetic movement from the drive unit to the heart contacting organ, wherein kinetic movement is used by the heart contacting organ for providing the kinetic movement needed for periodically exerting the force on the heart muscle, said respiration movement compensator having a variable length allowing said respiration movement compensator to be varied in its length direction during transfer of the kinetic movement so as to compensate for the respiratory movement of the heart in relation to a stable bone position,
said drive unit being adapted to allow a movement to compensate for the respiratory movement in relation between said heart contacting organ and said bone.
2. The implantable device according to claim 1 , wherein said respiratory movement compensator comprises a hydraulic, mechanic or pneumatic construction or a combination thereof, to compensate for the respiratory movement.
3. The implantable device according to claim 1 , wherein said drive unit is adapted to be placed at least partly in an abdomen of the patient allowing the heart contacting organ to reach the heart, for creating said kinetic movement of the heart contacting organ.
4. The implantable device according to claim 1 , wherein said drive unit is adapted to enter from an abdomen of the patient through a thoracic diaphragm of the patient.
5. The implantable device according to claim 1 , wherein said fixation device is adapted to be mounted on the outside of a sternum of the patient, wherein said drive unit comprises an arm for passing subcutaneously from the outside of the sternum into an abdomen of the patient and is adapted to hold the drive unit, wherein said drive unit entering through the thoracic diaphragm holding said heart contacting organ.
6. The implantable device according to claim 1 , wherein said drive unit further comprises a fibrotic tissue movement structure adapted to allow the respiratory movement of the heart in relation to the stable bone position, without interference from surrounding fibrotic tissue, when implanted in the body.
7. The implantable device of claim 1 , wherein said heart contacting organ can change from exerting force to a first area of the heart to exerting a force to a second area of the heart, after said implantable device has been implanted in said patient.
8. The implantable device according to claim 1 , wherein said heart contacting organ can change from exerting force to a first area of the heart to exerting force to a second area of the heart, after said implantable device has been implanted in said patient.
9. The implantable device according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one heart contacting organ comprises at least one hydraulic or pneumatic cushion.
10. The implantable device according to claim 1 , wherein said implantable device further comprises a plate, and wherein said at least one hydraulic or pneumatic cushion is placed in connection to said plate, and wherein said plate enables movement of said cushion in relation to said plate to change the position of said hydraulic or pneumatic cushion and thereby change the position of said force exerted on the heart of the patient after said implantable device has been implanted in the patient.
11. The implantable device according to claim 1 , wherein said heart contacting organ further comprises a mechanical element adapted to be movable to change a position of said force exerted on the heart of the patient after said implantable device has been implanted in the patient.
12. The implantable device according to claim 1 , wherein said implantable device is adapted to pass through a laparoscopic trocar in the patient's body.
13. The implantable device according to claim 1 , wherein said implantable device is adapted to pass through an opening in a thoracic diaphragm from an abdominal side thereof.
14. The implantable device according to claim 1 , wherein said drive unit is adapted to supply wireless or magnetic energy and the implantable heart assistant device is adapted to receive said wireless or magnetic energy to cause movements of said device.
15. The implantable device according to claim 1 , further comprising an energy receiver or energy source for powering the implantable device is adapted to be placed in a abdomen of the patient.
16. The implantable device according to claim 1 , wherein said implantable device further comprises an internal energy source and an electric wire adapted to connect the implantable device or drive unit to said internal energy source, said wire adapted to pass into a right atrium of the heart and further up in a venous blood vessel system, exiting the blood vessel system in or closer to a subcutaneous area, wherein said internal energy source is adapted to be connected to said wire via the subcutaneous area.
17. The implantable device according to claim 16 , wherein said internal energy source, comprises an internal control unit adapted to transmit energy pulses to an electrode for achieving heart muscle contractions and controlling heart contractions, wherein said control unit is adapted to coordinate the implantable device with the heart contractions.
18. The implantable device according to claim 1 , further comprising: an internal control unit and a sensor sensing physiological electrical pulses or muscles contractions of the heart, wherein said control unit controls said implantable device according to the sensed information.
19. The implantable device according to claim 1 , wherein said fixation device being adapted to be mounted in a stable position to human bone is adapted to be mounted in a stable position to a part of the human body selected from a group consisting of: the sternum, at least one rib and at least one vertebra.