US Patent 7468029 Progressive biventricular diastolic support device

A device is proposed to progressively reduce the hemodynamic cardiac symptoms of congestive heart failure as well as those induced by dilated cardiomyopathies. This device affords progressive diastolic ventricular control by offering a method for percutaneous access and adjustments of its gas filled bladders surrounding the heart. After opening the pericardium, the device is not attached to the heart muscle but may be anchored to the pericardial sac. The device actually extends primarily around the heart from below the atrio-ventricular canal to the cardiac apex. Between the device exterior, made of non-elastic material and the epicardium, two independent elastic bladders or chambers provide variable compressive diastolic support to the right and left ventricles, while allowing adequate blood flow to the anterior and posterior descending epicardial branches of the coronary arteries and veins. Progressive hemodynamic increases in diastolic pressures for the right and left ventricles can be individually and repeatedly monitored by pressure gauges and an inert gas separately injected or removed in the enclosed chest through self-sealing access ports. These ports are subcutaneously implanted in the left anterior axillary line and connected by thin tubes across the 4th or 5th intercostal spaces to the pericardial bladders or chambers described above.