Cardiac treatment system

1. An assembly for providing localized pressure to a region of a patient's heart to improve heart functioning, comprising:

(a) a jacket made of a flexible biocompatible material, the jacket having an open top end that is configured to be received around the heart and a bottom portion that is configured to be received around an apex of the heart, wherein the jacket is elastic; and

(b) at least one inflatable bladder disposed on an interior surface of the jacket, the at least one inflatable bladder having an inelastic outer surface positioned adjacent to the jacket and an elastic inner surface configured to be positioned adjacent to the heart such that inflation of the at least one inflatable bladder causes the at least one inflatable bladder to deform substantially inwardly to exert localized pressure against a region of the heart.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the jacket comprises a knit mesh.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the jacket comprises a polymer.

4. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the polymer comprises high-density polyethylene.

5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the jacket has a bottom end that is cinched closed.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one inflatable bladder has a supply line connected thereto, and wherein the supply line is positioned inside the jacket and extends out of the bottom portion of the jacket.

7. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the jacket has an elastic band passing around the top end.

8. The assembly of claim 7 , further comprising radiopaque markers on the jacket around its top end such that the radiopaque markers demarcate the top end.

9. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the at least one inflatable bladder is attached to the jacket.

10. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the at least one inflatable bladder is not attached to the jacket.

11. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one inflatable bladder is made of silicon.

12. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one inflatable bladder is positioned on the jacket at a location such that, when the jacket is received onto the heart, the at least one inflatable bladder is adapted to be positioned adjacent to a mitral valve of the heart.

13. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one inflatable bladder is positioned on the jacket at a location such that, when the jacket is received onto the heart, the at least one inflatable bladder is adapted to be positioned adjacent to apapillary muscle of the heart.

14. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one inflatable bladder is positioned on the jacket at a location such that, when the jacket is received onto the heart, the at least one inflatable bladder is adapted to be positioned adjacent to a tricuspid valve of the heart.

15. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one inflatable bladder comprises a plurality of inflatable bladders.

16. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:

(c) a delivery device for positioning the jacket onto the heart.

17. A method of providing localized pressure to a region of a patient's heart to improve heart functioning, comprising:

(a) positioning an assembly around a patient's heart, wherein the assembly comprises:

a jacket and at least one inflatable bladder,

wherein the jacket is made of a flexible biocompatible material having an open top end that is received around the heart and a bottom portion that is received around the apex of the heart, wherein the jacket is elastic, and

the at least one inflatable bladder is disposed on an interior surface of the jacket, the at least one inflatable bladder having an inelastic outer wall positioned adjacent to the jacket and an elastic inner wall; and

(b) inflating the at least one inflatable bladder causing the at least one inflatable bladder to expand such that the at least one inflatable bladder deforms substantially inwardly to exert localized pressure against a region of the heart.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the region of the heart that the localized pressure is exerted against is a location adjacent to a papillary muscle of the heart.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the region of the heart against which the localized pressure is exerted is a location adjacent to a mitral valve or a tricuspid valve of the heart.

20. An apparatus for providing localized pressure to a region of a patient's heart to improve heart functioning, comprising:

(a) a jacket made of a flexible biocompatible material, the jacket defining an open top end that is configured to be received around the heart and a bottom portion that is configured to be received around an apex of the heart, wherein the jacket is elastic; and

(b) at least one inflatable bladder disposed on an interior surface of the jacket, the at least one inflatable bladder having an inelastic outer wall positioned adjacent to the jacket and an elastic inner wall configured to be positioned adjacent to the heart such that inflation of the at least one inflatable bladder causes the at least one inflatable bladder to deform substantially inwardly to exert localized pressure against a location of the heart.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 , further comprising an elastic band attached to the jacket and passing around the top end.

22. The assembly of claim 21 , further comprising a plurality of radiopaque markers on the jacket around the top end such that the plurality of radiopaque markers demarcate the top end.