Pericardium reinforcing devices and methods for using them

Abstract

A surgical device for reinforcing the pericardial sac surrounding the heart to assist in the treatment of congestive heart failure includes an enclosure having an interior and an exterior. The interior surface limits adhesions or accepts ingrowth with the myocardial tissue of the epicardium. The exterior surface is adapted to adhere to or otherwise attach to the pericardium to provide reinformcement.

1 . A compliant and substantially non-elastic pepcardial reinforcement comprising a compliant and substantially non-elastic member having an interior surface for placement adjacent an epicardium, the interior surface tending to inhibit adhesions with the epicardium and having an exterior surface for attachment to the interior of a pericardium.