Cardiac disease treatment and device

Abstract

A jacket of biological compatible material has an internal volume dimensioned for an apex of the heart to be inserted into the volume and for the jacket to 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 of the heart with the jacket surrounding a valvular annulus of the heart and further surrounding the lower portion to cover at least the ventricular lower 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 ventricular lower extremities. The jacket is adjustable on the heart to snugly conform to an external geometry of the heart and assume a maximum adjusted volume for the jacket to constrain circumferential expansion of the heart beyond the maximum adjusted volume during diastole and to permit unimpeded contraction of the heart during systole.

1 . A method for treating cardiac disease of a heart, the method comprising:
 accessing a diseased heart;   placing a jacket comprising compliant, elastic, and open cell biocompatible material around the ventricles of the heart to passively constrain circumferential expansion of the heart;   causing an electrical element to extend through an open cell in the jacket and to operatively engage the accessed heart to couple electrical therapy to the heart; and   de-accessing the heart after placing the jacket and causing the electrical element to engage the heart.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising securing the jacket on the heart. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the jacket is secured on the heart with sutures. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising adjusting said jacket to snugly conform to the external geometry of the heart. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said electrical element is a pacer lead. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said electrical therapy is a defibrillating therapy. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said electrical therapy is a pacing therapy. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said jacket is configured to engage a surface of the heart to constrain circumferential expansion of the heart beyond a predetermined maximum volume.