Apparatus for assisting systolic and diastolic cardiac function

摘要

The present invention pertains to an apparatus for assisting a patient's heart operation. The apparatus comprises a mechanism for expanding and collapsing a right ventricle free wall of a heart of a patient. The apparatus also comprises a mechanism for powering the expanding and collapsing mechanism. The powering mechanism is in communication with the expanding and collapsing mechanism. The present invention pertains to a method for assisting operation of a patient's heart. The method comprises the steps of expanding a balloon placed between a right ventricle free wall and a septum of a patient such that right ventricular compression is achieved during cardiac systole. Then there is the step of collapsing the balloon during cardiac diastole.