Cardiac assist system and method thereof

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Briefly, and in general terms, the present invention is directed to a system and method for providing mechanical and/or electrical stimulation to the heart when necessary.
The system comprises a ventricular assist device which is designed for extension over at least a portion of the heart, and operative to intermittently apply a compressive force to the heart to assist the heart in pumping blood.
The system also includes an electrical stimulating subsystem including one or more stimulating electrodes placed at selected locations to come into close proximity to, or engagement with, the heart.
The stimulating electrodes are responsive to receipt of electrical stimulating energy to apply the energy to the heart.
The system still further includes a heart sensor which senses the electrical activity of the heart and generates corresponding electrical signals.
A controller is electrically connected to the sensor and to a source of pressurized air, and is responsive to receipt of the electrical signals from the sensor to determine the onset of ventricular contraction and to control the source of pressurized air to inflate the ventricular assist device synchronous with the ventricular contraction of the heart.
Thus, in one illustrative embodiment the cardiac assist system of the present invention comprises: a ventricular assist device including a suction membrane configured to engage the heart and an inflatable bladder that is operative to apply pressure to at least a portion of the heart; a source of pressurized air is connected to the inflatable bladder and is operative to inflate the bladders; at least one electrical sensor is in contact with the suction membrane and is configured to be positioned in contact with the heart when the ventricular assist device is engaged to the heart, the electrical sensor being operative to sense electrical activity of the heart and to generate corresponding electrical signals; and a controller is electrically connected to the sensor and to the source of pressurized air, the controller being programmed to receive the electrical signals from the sensor, to determine from the electrical signals when the heart is in ventricular contraction, and to control the source of pressurized air to supply pressurized air to the bladder to inflate the bladder during at least a portion of the ventricular contraction of the heart