Patent ID: 6547821
Filing Date: 2003-04-15
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
A method of passively increasing the cardiac output of a heart by restraining a portion of the heart, the method comprising the steps of:a) providing a site of surgical access to a portion of the heart to be restrained; b) reducing the cardiac expansion of the portion of the heart to be restrained; c) wherein the step of reducing the cardiac expansion of the portion of the heart to be restrained comprises applying a ventricular assist device to the surface of the heart, the ventricular assit device comprising a frame having at least one lateral support member connected to at least one vertical support member and a net attached to the frame, the frame and net being configured to surround the portion of the heart to be restrained; and d) maintaing the reduction of cardiac expansion of the portion of the heart to be restrained postoperatively.