Self-adjusting attachment structure for a cardiac support device

Abstract

A cardiac support device including a jacket and elastic attachment structure for self-securing the jacket to a heart. The attachment structures can include undulating metal and polymer elements, a silicone band and elastomeric filaments on a base end of the jacket.

1 . A cardiac support device including:
 a compliant and elastic jacket having base and apex regions and circumferentially closed between the base and apex regions, for surrounding at least a lower portion of a heart and constraining cardiac expansion; and   an elastic attachment band on the base region of the jacket and extending circumferentially around the jacket to self-attach the jacket to a heart by applying a force to the base region of the jacket and holding the base region of the jacket on the heart.   
     
     
         2 . The cardiac support device of  claim 1  wherein the attachment band is attached to an exterior surface of the jacket. 
     
     
         3 . The cardiac support device of  claim 1  wherein the attachment band is attached to an interior surface of the jacket. 
     
     
         4 . The cardiac support device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the jacket base region includes a hem; and   the attachment band is within the hem.   
     
     
         5 . The cardiac support device of  claim 4  wherein the attachment band is fixedly attached to the jacket within the hem. 
     
     
         6 . The cardiac support device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the jacket base region includes a channel; and   the attachment band is free-floating within a channel.   
     
     
         7 . The cardiac support device of  claim 6  wherein the jacket includes a hem forming the channel. 
     
     
         8 . The cardiac support device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the jacket has a first elasticity; and   the attachment band has a second elasticity that is greater than the first elasticity.   
     
     
         9 . The cardiac support device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the jacket has a first elasticity; and   the attachment band has a second elasticity that is less than the first elasticity.   
     
     
         10 . The cardiac support device of  claim 1  wherein the attachment band includes a polymer band. 
     
     
         11 . The cardiac support device of  claim 1  wherein the attachment band includes a metal structure. 
     
     
         12 . The cardiac support device of  claim 1  wherein the attachment band extends completely around the jacket. 
     
     
         13 . The cardiac support device of  claim 1  wherein the attachment band extends partially around the jacket. 
     
     
         14 . The cardiac support device of  claim 1  wherein the attachment band includes a plurality of segments at spaced-apart locations. 
     
     
         15 . The cardiac support device of  claim 1  wherein the attachment band includes a hoop having two free ends. 
     
     
         16 . The cardiac support device of  claim 1  wherein the elastomeric band includes apertures. 
     
     
         17 . The cardiac support device of  claim 1  wherein the attachment band includes a plurality of spaced-apart elastomeric bands. 
     
     
         18 . The cardiac support device of  claim 1  wherein the jacket includes knit material. 
     
     
         19 . The cardiac support device of  claim 1  wherein the jacket has an open apex. 
     
     
         20 . The cardiac support device of  claim 1  wherein the jacket has a closed apex. 
     
     
         21 . The cardiac support device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the jacket is formed from knit, open-cell material having a channel defined by a hem on the base region;   the attachment band includes a single polymer band within the channel extending at least substantially entirely around the base region of the jacket; and   the device further includes an attachment structure to attach the band to the jacket.   
     
     
         22 . The cardiac support device of  claim 21  wherein the band is a solid band. 
     
     
         23 . The cardiac support device of  claim 22  wherein the jacket has an open apex. 
     
     
         24 . The cardiac support device of  claim 23  wherein the attachment structure to attach the band to the jacket includes a stitch between the band and the jacket.