Apparatus and method for applying cardiac support device

Abstract

A method for applying a cardiac support device to a heart of a mammal includes surgically accessing a heart, providing a cardiac support device including a jacket, and positioning the jacket around at least a portion of the heart by applying a pulling force to the jacket. The step of positioning the jacket can include using a tool from a position superior to the heart to pull the jacket onto the heart. One device for placing a cardiac support jacket onto the heart includes first and second tubular walls. The second tubular wall is oriented within the first tubular wall and against an internal surface of the first tubular wall. The second tubular wall includes a plurality of grooves and has an open interior volume to hold the cardiac support jacket. Another device for placing a cardiac support jacket onto the heart includes a tubular wall having a plurality of lumens extending between opposite ends of the tubular wall.

1 . A device for placing a cardiac support jacket onto a heart; the device comprising: 
 (a) a first tubular wall having an open insertion end, an opposite end, and an internal surface; 
 (i) the insertion end defining a plurality of slots; and  
   (b) a second tubular wall oriented within the first tubular wall and against the first tubular wall internal surface; the second tubular wall having: 
 (i) first and second opposite ends;  
 (ii) a plurality of grooves extending at least partially between the first and second ends;  
 (iii) an open interior volume constructed and arranged to hold a cardiac support jacket.  
   
   
   
       2 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 (a) said insertion end defines an oblique opening relative to the first tubular wall; the oblique opening including an elongate face; 
 (i) said plurality of slots being located in the elongate face;  
   (b) said plurality of grooves extend completely between the first and second ends of the second tubular wall; and    (c) there is an equal number of slots as grooves.    
   
   
       3 . A device for placing a cardiac support jacket onto a heart; the device comprising: 
 (a) a tubular wall having an open insertion end, an opposite end, an internal surface, and an open interior volume; 
 (i) a plurality of lumens extending at least partially between the insertion end and the opposite end, each lumen of the plurality of lumens defining a lumen open volume;  
 (ii) the insertion end defining a plurality of notches; each notch of the plurality of notches being in the internal surface of the tubular wall and in communication with a respective lumen open volume; and  
 (iii) the open interior volume constructed and arranged to hold a cardiac support jacket.  
   
   
   
       4 . A device according to  claim 3  wherein: 
 (a) said insertion end defines an oblique opening including an elongate face; 
 (i) said plurality of notches being located in the elongate face;  
   (b) each lumen of said plurality of lumens extends completely between the insertion end and the opposite end; and    (c) there is an equal number of notches and lumens.    
   
   
       5 . A device according to  claim 4  further comprising: 
 (a) an end cap covering the opposite end; the endcap including a strand-holding groove and a holding slot there within.    
   
   
       6 . A device according to  claim 3  wherein: 
 (a) said tubular wall is constructed of a material having a flexibility that is greater than a flexibility of a human rib.