Minimally-invasive devices and methods for treatment of congestive heart failure

Abstract

A method of treatment of congestive heart failure comprises the steps of introducing an aortic occlusion catheter through a patient's peripheral artery, the aortic occlusion catheter having an occluding member movable from a collapsed position to an expanded position; positioning the occluding member in the patient's ascending aorta; moving the occluding member from the collapsed shape to the expanded shape after the positioning step; introducing cardioplegic fluid into the patient's coronary blood vessels to arrest the patient's heart; maintaining circulation of oxygenated blood through the patient's arterial system; and reshaping an outer wall of the patient's heart while the heart is arrested so as to reduce the transverse dimension of the left ventricle. The ascending aorta may be occluded and cardioplegic fluid delivered by means of an occlusion balloon attached to the distal end of an elongated catheter positioned transluminally in the aorta from a femoral, subclavian, or other appropriate peripheral artery.

1 . A method of reshaping a patient's heart comprising: 
 gauging the size of the left ventricle;    determining the amount by which the left ventricle should be reduced from the gauging of its size; and    reducing the dimension of the left ventricle in accordance with the determined amount.    
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein gauging the size of the left ventricle comprises encircling the heart closely with an adjustable length band, and determining the size of the ventricle with reference to the length of the band.  
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein gauging the size of the left ventricle comprises inserting an expansible member into the left ventricle, and expanding the expansible member.  
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the expansible member is a balloon, and expanding the balloon is accomplished by the introduction of fluid into an interior of the balloon.  
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein gauging the size of the left ventricle further comprises measuring the volume of fluid introduced into the interior of the balloon.  
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein reducing the dimension of the left ventricle comprises creating an opening the in the left ventricular wall.  
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein reducing the dimension of the left ventricle further comprises removing a portion of the myocardial tissue.  
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein creating an opening the in the left ventricular wall comprises creating perforation in the left ventricle extending to the apex of the heart.  
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein reducing the dimension of the left ventricle further comprises hemostatically closing the left ventricle.  
   
   
       10 . A method of reshaping a patient's heart comprising: 
 introducing an expansible member into the left ventricle of a patient's heart, the expansible member being at least partially collapsed;    expanding the expansible member within the left ventricle of a patient's heart; and    reducing the volume of the left ventricle by an amount based upon the expanded volume of the expansible member.    
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the amount of volume reduction of the patient's left ventricle is determined by the expanded volume of the expansible member compared to a desired volume of the left ventricle.  
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein expanding the expansible member comprises the introduction of fluid into the interior of the expansible member.  
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein reducing the dimension of the left ventricle comprises creating an opening the in the left ventricular wall.  
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein reducing the dimension of the left ventricle further comprises removing a portion of the myocardial tissue.  
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein creating an opening the in the left ventricular wall comprises creating perforation in the left ventricle extending to the apex of the heart.  
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein reducing the dimension of the left ventricle further comprises hemostatically closing the left ventricle.  
   
   
       17 . A method of reshaping a patient's heart comprising: 
 encircling the heart closely with an adjustable length band;    determining the size of the left ventricle with reference to the length of the band; and    reducing the volume of the left ventricle by an amount based upon the determined size of the left ventricle.    
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein reducing the dimension of the left ventricle comprises creating an opening the in the left ventricular wall.  
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein reducing the dimension of the left ventricle further comprises removing a portion of the myocardial tissue.  
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein creating an opening the in the left ventricular wall comprises creating perforation in the left ventricle extending to the apex of the heart.  
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein reducing the dimension of the left ventricle further comprises hemostatically closing the left ventricle.