Heart assist device utilising aortic deformation
The present invention relates to providing counter-pulsation heart assist by deforming the aorta. In a preferred embodiment, the deformation pressure is applied by cyclically, preferably in synchrony with the diastolic period of the heart. The deformation pressure may be applied to the outer wall of the aorta or to a patch covering a resected opening in the wall of the aorta.
1. A counterpulsation heart assist device, comprising:
(a) a substantially inelastic shell comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the shell is curved such that the inner surface is substantially concave;
(b) a flexible membrane sealingly coupled to the shell, wherein an inflatable space is defined between the flexible membrane and the inner surface, wherein the flexible membrane has a deflated configuration and an inflated configuration, wherein the inflated configuration is a smoothly curved ovate projection;
(c) a port associated with the outer surface of the shell, wherein an interior portion of the port is in fluid communication with the inflatable space; and
(d) a wrap coupled to the outer surface of the shell, the wrap configured to be removeably positionable around a portion of a patient's ascending aorta such that the flexible membrane is configured to be held against a radially outer side of a curvature of the ascending aorta, wherein the device has no other component or structure for holding the device against the ascending aorta,
wherein the shell is configured to extend around only a portion of the circumference of the ascending aorta.
2. The counterpulsation heart assist device of claim 1 , wherein the flexible membrane is substantially inelastic.
3. The counterpulsation heart assist device of claim 1 , wherein the port is configured to be coupleable to a motive component.
4. The counterpulsation heart assist device of claim 1 , wherein a fluid is disposed within the inflatable space in the inflated configuration.
5. The counterpulsation heart assist device of claim 4 , wherein the fluid is a liquid.
6. The counterpulsation heart assist device of claim 1 , wherein the smooth curved ovate projection is configured to cause the outer side of the curvature of the ascending aorta to flex into a conic shape defined by a continuous line.
7. The counterpulsation heart assist device of claim 1 , wherein the smooth curved ovate projection is configured to cause the outer side of the curvature of the ascending aorta to flex substantially without stretching a wall of the aorta.
8. A counterpulsation heart assist device, comprising:
(a) a substantially inelastic shell comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the shell is curved such that the inner surface is substantially concave;
(b) a flexible membrane sealingly coupled to the shell, wherein an inflatable space is defined between the flexible membrane and the inner surface, wherein the flexible membrane has a deflated configuration and an inflated configuration, wherein the inflated configuration is a smoothly curved oval projection;
(c) a port associated with the outer surface of the shell, wherein an interior portion of the port is in fluid communication with the inflatable space; and
(d) a wrap coupled to the outer surface of the shell, the wrap configured to be removeably positionable around a portion of a patient's ascending aorta such that the flexible membrane is configured to be held against a radially outer side of a curvature of the ascending aorta, wherein the device has no other component or structure for holding the device against the ascending aorta,
wherein the smooth curved oval projection is configured to cause the outer side of the curvature of the ascending aorta to progressively deform substantially without stretching a wall of the aorta,
wherein the shell is configured to extend around only a portion of the circumference of the ascending aorta.
9. The counterpulsation heart assist device of claim 8 , wherein the flexible membrane is substantially inelastic.
10. The counterpulsation heart assist device of claim 8 , wherein the port is configured to be coupleable to a motive component.
11. The counterpulsation heart assist device of claim 8 , wherein a fluid is disposed within the inflatable space in the inflated configuration.
12. The counterpulsation heart assist device of claim 8 , wherein the smooth curved ovate projection is further configured to cause the outer side to progressively deform into a conic shape defined by a continuous line.
13. A counterpulsation heart assist device, comprising:
(a) a shell comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the shell is curved such that the inner surface is substantially concave;
(b) a substantially inelastic flexible membrane sealingly coupled to the shell, wherein an inflatable space is defined between the flexible membrane and the inner surface, wherein the flexible membrane has a deflated configuration and an inflated configuration, wherein the inflated configuration is a smoothly curved oval projection, and further wherein the flexible membrane is configured to be positionable against a radially outer side of a curvature of the ascending aorta;
(c) a port associated with the outer surface of the shell, wherein an interior portion of the port is in fluid communication with the inflatable space; and
(d) a wrap coupled to the outer surface of the shell, wherein the wrap is removeably positionable around a portion of a patient's ascending aorta such that the wrap holds the device against a radially outer side of a curvature of the ascending aorta, wherein the device has no other component or structure for holding the device against the ascending aorta,
wherein the shell is configured to extend around only a portion of the circumference of the ascending aorta.
14. The counterpulsation heart assist device of claim 13 , wherein the port is configured to be coupleable to a motive component.
15. The counterpulsation heart assist device of claim 13 , wherein a fluid is disposed within the inflatable space in the inflated configuration.
16. The counterpulsation heart assist device of claim 15 , wherein the fluid is a liquid.
17. The counterpulsation heart assist device of claim 13 , wherein the smooth curved ovate projection is further configured to cause the outer side to progressively deform into the smoothly curved oval depression, wherein the smoothly curved oval depression is defined by a continuous line.
18. The counterpulsation heart assist device of claim 13 , wherein the smooth curved ovate projection is configured to cause the outer side to progressively deform into the smoothly curved oval depression without stretching a wall of the aorta.
19. The counterpulsation heart assist device of claim 13 , wherein the smooth curved oval projection is configured to result in the outer side of the curvature of the ascending aorta having a smoothly curved oval depression on an substantially unstretched wall of the aorta.