Heart wall tension reduction apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for treatment of a failing heart by reducing the wall tension therein. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a tension member for drawing at least two walls of a heart chamber toward each other.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
   
   
       15 . A method of treating a heart, comprising:
 providing a C-shaped device having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end includes a first anchoring structure and the second end includes a second anchoring structure;   implanting the C-shaped device adjacent an external heart wall; and   passively compressing a heart structure with the C-shaped device, throughout a cardiac cycle.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the C-shaped device does not extend completely around the heart. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second anchoring structures are atraumatic. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein implanting the C-shaped device adjacent an external heart wall includes implanting the C-shaped device outside of a heart chamber. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein compressing a heart structure with the C-shaped device includes altering a dimension of the heart structure. 
   
   
       20 . A method of altering a dimension of a portion of a heart, comprising:
 providing a device having a first end and a second end;   implanting the device adjacent an external heart wall; and   passively compressing a heart structure disposed between the first and second ends of the device, throughout a cardiac cycle.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein implanting the device adjacent an external heart wall includes implanting the device outside of a heart chamber. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the device includes a substantially semi-circular shape. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the device is C-shaped. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the first end includes a first anchoring structure and the second end includes a second anchoring structure. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the first and second anchoring structures are atraumatic. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the first and second ends are biased towards one another. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the dimension is one of a radius or cross-sectional area. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the heart structure is a heart wall. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the first end is configured to be in contact with a first location of the heart structure, and the second end is configured to be in contact with a second location of the heart structure different from the first location. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the first end is configured to urge the first location towards the second location. 
   
   
       31 . A method of treating a heart comprising:
 providing an arcuate device having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end includes a first anchoring structure and the second end includes a second anchoring structure;   implanting the arcuate device adjacent an external heart wall, wherein the arcuate device is implanted external to a heart chamber; and   passively compressing a heart wall with the arcuate device, throughout a cardiac cycle, wherein passively compressing the heart wall alters the geometry of at least one heart chamber.   
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the arcuate device includes a substantially C-shaped configuration. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the first and second anchoring structures are atraumatic. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the arcuate device does not extend completely around the heart.