Cardiac support device with low friction delivery structures

Abstract

A cardiac support device that can be efficiently implanted on a patient's heart. The cardiac support device includes a jacket for constraining cardiac expansion and one or more lubricious elements releasably secured with respect to an inside surface of the jacket.

1 . A cardiac support device, including:
 a jacket for constraining cardiac expansion; and   one or more lubricious elements releasably secured with respect to an inside surface of the jacket.   
   
   
       2 . The cardiac support device of  claim 1  wherein the one or more lubricious elements includes a plurality of lubricious elements at spaced locations around the inside of the jacket. 
   
   
       3 . The cardiac support device of  claim 2  wherein:
 the jacket has an open base portion; and   the lubricious elements are releasably secured to the jacket at the base portion.   
   
   
       4 . The cardiac support device of  claim 3  wherein the lubricious elements further include delivery tool-engaging structures. 
   
   
       5 . The cardiac support device of  claim 4  wherein the delivery tool-engaging structures are located at the base portion. 
   
   
       6 . The cardiac support device of  claim 5  wherein the delivery tool-engaging structures include pockets. 
   
   
       7 . The cardiac support device of  claim 1  wherein the one or more lubricious elements include first portions secured to the jacket. 
   
   
       8 . The cardiac support device of  claim 1  and further including a removal structure for removing at least portions of the one or more lubricious elements from the jacket. 
   
   
       9 . The cardiac support device of  claim 8  wherein the removal structure includes a weakened structure on the one or more lubricious elements for enabling second portions of the one or more elements to be separated from first portions secured to the jacket. 
   
   
       10 . The cardiac support device of  claim 9  wherein the removal structure further includes an actuating structure connected to the one or more lubricious elements, for causing the second portions of the lubricious elements to be separated from the first portions when actuated. 
   
   
       11 . The cardiac support device of  claim 10  wherein the actuating structure is connected to the one or more lubricious elements at the weakened structure. 
   
   
       12 . The cardiac support device of  claim 11  wherein the actuating structure further includes a tear strip on the one or more lubricious elements at the weakened structure and connected to the actuating structure, for causing the second portions of the lubricious elements to be separated from the first portions at the weakened structure upon actuation of the actuating structure. 
   
   
       13 . The cardiac support device of  claim 12  wherein the actuating structure further includes a pull member connected to the tear strip. 
   
   
       14 . The cardiac support device of  claim 13  wherein the pull member is formed from lubricious material. 
   
   
       15 . The cardiac support device of  claim 13  wherein the pull member is located between the jacket and the lubricious elements 
   
   
       16 . The cardiac support device of  claim 13  wherein the pull member includes a delivery device-engaging structure. 
   
   
       17 . The cardiac support device of  claim 10  wherein the actuating structure is on an inside of the jacket. 
   
   
       18 . The cardiac support device of  claim 8  wherein the removal structure includes:
 weakened structures on the one or more lubricious elements; and   actuating structure coupled to the one or more lubricious elements, for causing the lubricious elements to be released from the jacket when actuated.   
   
   
       19 . The cardiac support device of  claim 8  wherein the removal structure is connected to the lubricious elements at a base end of the jacket, for removal of the lubricious elements through the base end of the jacket. 
   
   
       20 . The cardiac support device of  claim 19  wherein the removal structure includes a pull member connected to the lubricious elements. 
   
   
       21 . The cardiac support device of  claim 19  wherein the jacket has a closed apex. 
   
   
       22 . The cardiac support device of  claim 1  wherein the one or more lubricious elements includes a single unitary lubricious element inside the jacket. 
   
   
       23 . The cardiac support device of  claim 8  wherein the removal structure includes one or more pull members connected to the one or more lubricious elements. 
   
   
       24 . The cardiac support device of  claim 23  wherein:
 the jacket has an open apex; and   the one or more pull members are connected to the one or more lubricious elements through the open apex, enabling removal of the lubricious elements through the open apex.   
   
   
       25 . The cardiac support device of  claim 23  wherein the one or more pull members are connected to the one or more lubricious elements at a base end portion of the jacket, enabling removal of the lubricious elements through the base end portion.