CARDIAC DISEASE TREATMENT DEVICE AND METHOD

摘要

A jacket of biological compatible material has an internal volume dimensione d for an apex of the heart to be inserted into the volume and for the jacket t o be slipped over the heart. The jacket has a longitudinal dimension between upper and lower ends sufficient for the jacket to surround a lower portion o f the heart with the jacket surrounding a valvular annulus of the heart and further surrounding the lower portion to cover at least the ventricular lowe r extremities of the heart. The jacket is adapted to be secured to the heart with the jacket surrounding at least the valvular annulus and the ventricula r lower extremities. The jacket is adjustable on the heart to snugly conform t o an external geometry of the heart and assume a maximum adjusted volume for t he jacket to constrain circumferential expansion of the heart beyond the maximu m adjusted volume during diastole and to permit unimpeded contraction of the heart during systole.