Patent ID: 7198595

Claim:
A cardiac apparatus, comprising: a covering including a first portion and a second portion, said covering being configured to at least partially encircle a heart with said first portion of said covering adjacent to said second portion of said covering; and a size adjustment mechanism coupled to said covering, said size adjustment mechanism comprising a coupling member including a first end and a second end and an electroactive polymer actuator including a first end and a second end, said first end of said electroactive polymer actuator being coupled to said first portion of said covering and said first end of said coupling member being coupled to said second end of said electroactive polymer actuator and said second end of said coupling member being coupled to said second portion of said covering, said second end of said electroactive polymer actuator being oriented such that, upon actuation of said electroactive polymer actuator, said second end of said electroactive polymer actuator extends away from said first end of said electroactive polymer actuator to move said second portion of said covering towards said first portion of said covering.