Patent ID: 7252632

Claim:
A method for treating cardiac disease of a patient's heart, said method comprising: surgically accessing said patient's heart; placing a cardiac restraining device around said heart, said cardiac restraining device comprising a jacket and an adjustment mechanism; wherein said jacket is constructed of a flexible material and defines an internal volume between an open upper end and a lower end; adjusting said jacket on said heart to snugly conform to an external geometry of said heart and constrain circumferential expansion of said heart during diastole and permitting unimpeded contraction of said heart during systole; surgically closing access to said heart while leaving said jacket in place on said heart; adjusting said internal volume defined by said jacket after said jacket is in place on said heart using said adjustment mechanism; and reducing a size of said heart by a method selected from the group consisting of LVAD and chronic pacing after said step of surgically closing access to said heart.