Cardiac disease treatment and device

Abstract

A method and device are disclosed for treating congestive heart disease. The material of the device is secured to the heart proximate the septal wall. The material covering the ventricles may or may not have the same tension and or compliance. The device can be constructed as a unitary “jacket” that is slipped over the apex of the heart. Alternately, the device implanted as one, two or more separate components. In one embodiment, the material covers both the left and right ventricles. In another embodiment, the material covers only one ventricle. The device may include at least one adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the tension of the material. Preferably, the device includes a first adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a tension of the material covering the right ventricle and a second adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the tension of the material covering the left ventricle such that the tension of the material covering the left ventricle can be different than the tension of the material covering the right ventricle.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A device for treating cardiac disease of a heart having a longitudinal axis from an apex to a base, an upper portion and a lower portion divided by an A-V groove, a valvular annulus adjacent said A-V groove, and ventricular lower extremities adjacent said apex, said ventricular lower extremities comprising a right ventricle and left ventricle wherein said right and left ventricle are separated by a septum, the device comprising: 
 flexible material of knit construction having upper and lower ends dimensioned to cover at least said left ventricle or at least said right ventricle;    said material adapted to be adjusted on said heart to snugly conform to an external geometry of said heart and constrain circumferential expansion of at least said left ventricle or at least said right ventricle during diastole and permit substantially unimpeded contraction of said heart during systole, wherein pressure exerted by said device on said right ventricle during diastole is different than pressure exerted by said device on said left ventricle during diastole.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said material is adapted to be secured to said heart proximate said septum.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said material is secured to said heart by fibrosis.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said device covers said left and right ventricle.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said device is constructed as a unitary jacket.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said device comprises a first component comprising material configured to cover said left ventricle and a second component comprising material configured to cover said right ventricle, wherein said first and second components are implanted separately.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said material covering said right ventricle has a greater compliance than said material covering said left ventricle.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said material covering said left ventricle is under more tension than said material covering said right ventricle.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a tension of said material.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 4 , further comprising a first adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a tension of said material covering said right ventricle and a second adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a tension of said material covering said left ventricle, wherein the tension of the material covering said left ventricle is greater than the tension of the material covering said right ventricle.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein said adjustment mechanism comprises material that is sufficiently flexible such that excess amounts of said material can be gathered following placement of said material over said heart to snugly conform said material to an external geometry of said heart.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein said adjustment mechanism comprises a slot comprising opposing lateral edges, wherein the tension of said material is adjusted by adjusting a proximity of said opposing lateral edges.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein said adjustment mechanism comprises an inflatable member mounted between said material and the heart.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a securing member.  
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein said securing member comprises an inelastic band configured to extend along said septum when said device is in place.  
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein said securing member comprises a plurality of rings configured to extend along said septum when said device is in place.  
     
     
         17 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein said material is dimensioned to have a longitudinal dimension between said upper and lower ends sufficient for said jacket to constrain said valvular annulus.  
     
     
         18 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein said material encloses said apex.  
     
     
         19 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein said apex protrudes beyond said material.  
     
     
         20 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein said jacket is sized to at least partially cover and constrain said upper portion.  
     
     
         21 . A method for treating cardiac disease of a patient's heart, said heart having a longitudinal axis from an apex to a base, an upper portion and a lower portion divided by an A-V groove, a valvular annulus adjacent said A-V groove, and ventricular lower extremities adjacent said apex, said ventricular lower extremities comprising a right ventricle and left ventricle wherein said right and left ventricle are separated by a septum, said method comprising: 
 surgically accessing said patient's heart;    positioning material over at least said left ventricle or at least said right ventricle, said material comprising a biomedical material having an upper end and a lower end;    securing said upper end of said material to said heart; and    adjusting said material on said heart to snugly conform to an external geometry of said heart to constrain circumferential expansion of said heart during diastole and permit unimpeded contraction of said heart during systole, wherein pressure exerted by said device on said right ventricle during diastole is different than pressure exerted by said device on said left ventricle during diastole.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising securing said material proximate said septum.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising positioning material over both said right and left ventricles.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said right ventricle is not constrained.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said left ventricle is not constrained.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising providing a unitary device comprising material configured to cover both said right and left ventricles.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising adjusting a tension of said material covering said left ventricle by gathering excess material and suturing a seam on said material covering said left ventricle.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising adjusting a tension of said material covering said right ventricle by gathering excess material and suturing a seam on said material covering said right ventricle.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said tension of said material covering said left ventricle is greater than said tension of said material covering said right ventricle.  
     
     
         30 . A method for treating cardiac disease of a patient's heart, said heart having a longitudinal axis from an apex to a base, an upper portion and a lower portion divided by an A-V groove, a valvular annulus adjacent said A-V groove, and ventricular lower extremities adjacent said apex, said ventricular lower extremities comprising a right ventricle and left ventricle wherein said right and left ventricle are separated by a septum, said method comprising: 
 surgically accessing said patient's heart;    positioning a first component over a first ventricle, said first component comprising a piece of biomedical material having an upper end and a lower end;    securing said first component proximate said septum;    securing said upper end of said material of said first component to said heart;    adjusting said first component to snugly conform to an external geometry of said heart and assume a maximum adjusted volume for said material to constrain circumferential expansion of said first ventricle beyond said maximum adjusted volume during diastole and permitting unimpeded contraction of said heart during systole;    positioning a second component over a second ventricle, said second component comprising a piece of biomedical material having an upper end and a lower end;    securing said second component proximate said septum;    securing said upper end of said second component to said heart; and    adjusting said second component to snugly conform to an external geometry of said second ventricle and assume a maximum adjusted volume for said material to constrain circumferential expansion of said heart beyond said maximum adjusted volume during diastole and permitting unimpeded contraction of said heart during systole.