CARDIAC HARNESS ASSEMBLY FOR TREATING CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE AND FOR DEFIBRILLATION AND/OR PACING/SENSING

摘要

A cardiac harness assembly for treating congestive heart failure and for use in defibrillation and/or pacing/sensing is provided. The cardiac harness includes a number of longitudinal ribs spaced apart by connectors, the longitudinal ribs extending from the base to the apex of the heart. The longitudinal ribs have a high degree of longitudinal flexibility so that when the cardiac harness is mounted on the heart, the longitudinal ribs flex along the longitudinal axis of the ribs as the heart expands and contracts circumferentially. The cardiac harness provides a uniform and continuous compressive force on the heart throughout the cardiac cycle.