Patent ID: 6572529
Filing Date: 2003-06-03
Classification: A61B,A61F,A61M

Abstract:
A surgical method for assisting cardiac function, comprising:inserting a device into a patient; and applying said device to a lower end portion of the patient's heart so as to compress and at least partially close a lower portion of at least one ventricle of the heart, said device including a wire provided at a free end with at least one anchoring barb, the applying of said device to the lower portion of the patient's heart including: inserting a catheter into a ventricle of the patient's heart; ejecting said free end of said wire from said catheter into the patient's myocardium so that said free end and said at least one barb are embedded in the myocardium, surrounded thereby; and exerting tension on said wire to pull walls of the patient's heart towards one another so as to compress and close off said lower portion of said at least one ventricle of the heart.