Method for improving cardiac function

[0001] The present patent application is a continuation-in-part application of prior U.S. patent application No. 09/635,511, filed on Aug. 9, 2000, now abandoned, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/147,894 filed on Aug. 9,1999, and are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0002] 1). Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates to a method and device for improving cardiac function.

[0004] 2). Discussion of Related Art

[0005] Congestive heart failure annually leads to millions of hospital visits internationally. Congestive heart failure is a description given to a myriad of symptoms that can be the result of the heart's inability to meet the body's demand for blood flow. In certain pathological conditions, the ventricles of the heart become ineffective in pumping the blood, causing a back-up of pressure in the vascular system behind the ventricle.

[0006] The reduced effectiveness of the heart is usually due to an enlargement of the heart. A myocardial ischaemia may, for example, cause a portion of a myocardium of the heart to lose its ability to contract. Prolonged ischemia can lead to infarction of a portion of the myocardium (heart muscle) wherein the heart muscle dies and becomes scar tissue. Once this tissue dies it no longer functions as a muscle and cannot contribute to the pumping action of the heart. When the heart tissue is no longer pumping effectively, that portion of the myocardium is said to be hypokinetic, meaning that it is less contractile than the uncompromised myocardial tissue. As this situation worsens, the local area of compromised myocardium may in fact bulge out as the heart contracts, further decreasing the heart's ability to move blood forward. When local wall motion moves in this way it is said to be dyskinetic. The dyskinetic portion of the myocardium may stretch and eventually form an aneurysmic bulge. Certain diseases may cause a global dilated myopathy, i.e., a general enlargement of the heart when this situation continues for an extended period of time. As the heart begins to fail, the filling pressures increase, which stretches the ventricular chamber prior to contraction, greatly increasing the pressure (preload) to the heart. In response, the heart tissue remodels to accommodate the chronically increased filling pressures, further increasing the work that the now-compromised myocardium must perform. This vicious cycle of cardiac failure results in the symptoms of congestive heart failure such as shortness of breath on exertion, edema in the periphery, nocturnal dypsnia (a characteristic shortness of breath that occurs at night after going to bed), weight gain, and fatigue, to name a few. The enlargements increase stress on the myocardium. The stress increase requires a larger amount of oxygen supply, which can result in exhaustion of the myocardium leading to a reduced cardiac output of the heart.

[0007] According to one aspect of the invention, a method for improving cardiac function is provided. A membrane is inserted into a ventricle of the heart. The membrane is mounted in a position in the ventricle to substantially form a division between volumes of the ventricle on opposing sides of the membrane.

[0033] FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C illustrate components of a device 10, according to an embodiment of the invention, for improving cardiac function. The device 10 includes a frame construction 12, a plurality of anchoring formations 14, and a membrane 16. The frame construction 12 includes a main frame 18 and a support frame 20 secured to the main frame 18. The membrane 16 is secured on top of the support frame 20.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 1A, the main frame 18 includes a sequence or series of segments 22. Even segments of the series extend in an upward direction, and odd segments extend downward. The sequence formed by the segments 22 entirely surrounds a vertical axis 24. Movement of the segments 22 toward one another causes collapse of the main frame 18 toward the vertical axis 24. The frame construction 12 is made of a biocompatible wire-like shape-memory material, for example, nickel-titanium.

[0035] The anchoring formations 14 include a distal anchoring screw 14A, distal anchoring hooks 14B, and proximal anchoring hooks 14C. Two or more (in the present example, four) of the segments 22A are longer, and extend further down than other ones of the segments 22B. The segments 22A have their lower ends connected to one another, and the distal anchoring screw 14A is secured to the lower ends of the segments 22A. The segments 22A and 22B may be curved, as opposed to being straight, as shown in the figures.

[0036] The distal anchoring hooks 14B are secured to lower ends of the segments 22B. Each distal anchoring hook 14B curves out and then down and is formed with a lower sharp end 26.

[0037] The proximal anchoring hooks 14C are secured to upper ends of the segments 22A and 22B. Each one of the proximal anchoring hooks 14C curves out and then up and terminates in an upper sharp end 28. The anchoring hooks 14B and 14C move together with the main frame 18 toward the vertical axis 24 when the main frame 18 is collapsed.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 1C, the support frame 20 includes six (or more) elements 32, sequentially after one another and overlaying one another to form a six-pointed star. The elements 32 can pivot in a scissor-like manner relative to one another. Pivoting of the elements 32 relative to one another moves corners 34 of the star toward one another, while corners 36 on an opposing side of the star move toward one another. The support frame 20 then has an elongated configuration with the corners 36 at one end and the corners 34 at an opposing end.

[0039] Referring to FIG. 1B, each corner 36 is positioned around and slidably secured to a respective one of the segments 22B. When the main frame 18 is collapsed, the corners 34 slide up the segments 22B to which they are secured, while the corners 36 remain at the bottom of the segments 22B to which they are secured. When the main frame 18 is fully collapsed, the support frame 20 is in the form of an elongated arrangement extending along the vertical axis 24, with the corners 34 at the top and the corners 36 at the bottom.

[0040] FIG. 1C also shows the membrane 16, in an unfolded condition, secured on the elements 32 of the support frame 20. An edge 40 of the membrane 16 is secured to the elements 32. Two of the elements 32 form a cross below a center of the membrane 16, and the other four elements 32 support the membrane 16 between the cross and the edge 40. Collapse of the support frame 20 folds the membrane 16 into an elongated folded arrangement extending along the elongated arrangement formed by the collapsed support frame 20. The membrane 16 is made of a biocompatible foldable material, for example Gore-Tex®, poly-ethylene terephthalate, or polypropylene mesh.

[0041] FIG. 2A illustrates the device 10 that is inserted into a heart 42 by means of a catheter 44. The device 10 is collapsed and is inserted into an end of the catheter 44. The axis 24, shown vertically in FIGS. 1A and 1B, now extends along an axis of an elongated tubular passage 46 in the catheter 44. The device 10 is packaged with the distal anchoring screw 14A protruding from the end of the catheter 44. The catheter 44 is non-invasively steered through the aorta 48 and the aortic valve (not shown) into the left ventricle 52A of the heart 42. The other chambers of the heart 42 are the right ventricle 52B, the left atrium 50A, and the right atrium 50B.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 2B, a device manipulating apparatus 54 is disposed within the catheter 44. The apparatus 54 includes an elongated manipulator 56, a rotator piece 58, and a support piece 60. Only a distal portion of the elongated manipulator 56 is shown. A handle (not shown) is attached to a proximal portion of the elongated manipulator 56. The elongated manipulator 56 can bend to conform to the curved or bent shape of the catheter 44, but is relatively rigid against a torque about an elongated axis thereof. The rotator piece 58 is secured to an end of the elongated manipulator 56, and the support piece 60 is secured to the elongated manipulator 56 slightly proximal to the rotator piece 58. The rotator piece 58 has an internal device engaging formation 62. The device 10 is inserted into the formation 62 until proximal surfaces of the device 10 contact the support piece 60. The formation 62 conforms to an outer shape of the device 10, so that the device 10 rotates together with the rotator piece 58 when the rotator piece 58 is rotated by the elongated manipulator 56. The device 10 may be fed out of an end of the catheter 44 by the support piece 60 when the elongated manipulator 56 is advanced in an elongated direction of the catheter 44. The support piece 60 also prevents movement of the device 10 in an opposite direction into the catheter 44.

[0043] Reference is now made to FIG. 3A. The myocardium 74 of the heart has formed an aneurysmic formation or bulge 76 out of the left ventricle 52A. A previous infarction, or cessation of blood supply, to the portion of the myocardium 74 now forming the bulge 76 has caused the tissue of that portion of the myocardium 74 to die. Continuous exposure of the dyskinetic portion of the myocardium 74 to high pressures in the left ventricle 52A has caused the aneurysmic bulge 76.

[0044] The catheter 44 is steered so that the distal anchoring screw 14A contacts a base of the bulge 76. The catheter 44 is then rotated so that the distal anchoring screw 14A screws into the myocardium 74 at a target site at the base of the bulge 76.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 3B, the catheter 44 is then retracted over the device 10 with the distal anchoring screw 14A anchoring the frame construction 12 to the myocardium 74 at the base of the bulge 76. The distal anchoring hooks 14B leave the catheter 44 as the catheter 44 is retracted, before the remainder of the device 10, and bend outwardly under spring action.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 3C, further withdrawal of the catheter 44 from the segments 22B causes the segments 22B to spring outwardly, and the distal anchoring hooks 14B to come into contact with the myocardium 74. The support frame 20 pivots away from its alignment with the center axis of the elongated tubular passage 46, and the proximal anchoring hooks 14C are at this stage still located within the elongated tubular passage 46.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 3D, the catheter 44 is subsequently withdrawn from proximal anchoring hooks 14C. Proximal portions of the segments 22A and 22B spring outwardly after the proximal anchoring hooks 14C leave the tubular passage 46, so that the proximal anchoring hooks 14C move outwardly into contact with the myocardium 74. A proximal portion of each segment 22A or 22B pivots relative to a distal portion thereof. Pivoting of the segments 22B rotates the lower sharp ends 26 of the distal anchoring hooks 14B into the myocardium 74. Embedding of the distal anchoring hooks 14B into the myocardium 74 anchors the segments 22B to the myocardium 74. Beating of the heart 42 causes relative movement between the myocardium 74 and proximal anchoring hooks 14C, so that the upper sharp ends 28 may also penetrate the myocardium 74. The proximal anchoring hooks 14C are thereby also embedded into the myocardium 74, and anchor proximal portions of the segments 22A and 22B to the myocardium 74. Each segment 22A or 22B is near the myocardium 74 at all locations along the length of the respective segment 22A or 22B, and is anchored to the myocardium 74 through the anchoring formations 14.

[0048] The corners 34 of the support frame 20 slide along the segments 22B to which they are secured when the segments 22B rotate outwardly relative to one another. When comparing FIG. 3D with FIG. 3C, it can be seen that the support frame 20 is in a plane which is substantially at right angles with respect to the axis of the elongated tubular passage 46. The membrane 16 (FIG. 1C) unfolds and is supported on top of the support frame 20. The membrane 16 forms a division between the aneurysmic bulge 76 and a remainder of the left ventricle 52A.

[0049] After the device 10 is installed, the aneurysmic bulge 76, having been segregated from the remainder of the left ventricle 52A, eventually clots off behind the sheet 16, thereby effectively reducing the internal volume in the left ventricle 52A. Stretching of the portion of the myocardium 74 forming the aneurysmic bulge 76 is also effectively eliminated. By blocking off a portion of the left ventricle 52A not contributing to pumping during a systolic portion of a pump cycle, properly functioning portions of the myocardium 74 can contract normally and use up a normal amount of oxygen. By reducing the amount of oxygen uptake during a given period of time, properly functioning portions of the myocardium 74 are not exhausted and can continue to function properly. Cardiac output increases, and the likelihood of congestive heart failure is reduced, assuming that all other conditions remain the same. A reduction in the strength of the contractions of the properly functioning portions of the myocardium also reduces LVESP, with a corresponding reduction in stress of both dyskinetic and properly functioning portions of the myocardium 74.

[0050] FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate pressures within the left atrium 50 and the left ventricle 52A, respectively, of a healthy human being. It can be seen that the peak left ventricular pressure, i.e., the pressure in the left ventricle 52A during the systolic portion, reaches approximately 120 mm Hg. This pressure acts directly on the membrane 16. It can be assumed that the pressure on an opposing side of the membrane 16, i.e., the side of the aneurysmic bulge 76, is close to zero. The support frame 20 supports the sheet 16 at a sufficient number of locations and is sufficiently strong to prevent the membrane 16 from collapsing during peak systolic pressure. An peak left ventricular pressure in the region of 50 to 60 mm Hg for a sustained period of a few hours is generally regarded as being incompatible with life.

[0051] In the given example, there are a total of 31 anchoring formations 14, including the distal anchoring screw 14A, 14 distal anchoring hooks 14B, and 16 proximal anchoring hooks 14C. The large number of anchoring formations 14 ensure proper anchoring to the myocardium 74. The large number of anchoring formations 14 also allows for positioning of the membrane 16 at a select location within the left ventricle 52A and at a select angle and within a select plane relative to the myocardium 74. The anchoring formations 14, and in particular the anchoring hooks 14B and 14C, their shape, orientation, and placement, are thus uniquely suited for anchoring of the frame construction 12, especially when compared with other anchoring formations such as pins, clamps, staples, screws, and surgical thread. What should also be noted is that the anchoring formations 14 penetrate through only a portion of the myocardium 74, and thus do not damage the pericardium. What should further be noted is that none of the anchoring formations 14 or other components of the device 10 can bump against the myocardium 74, to avoid electrostimulation of the myocardium 74 that can lead to arrhythmias.

[0052] FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C illustrate one manner in which the support frame 20 and the membrane 16 can be positioned at a select angle relative to the myocardium 74. When comparing FIG. 5A with FIG. 3C, it can be seen that the catheter 44 is positioned closer to a right side (as viewed) of the myocardium 74. The distal anchoring hooks 14B on the right engage with the myocardium 74 before the distal anchoring hooks 14B on the left engage with the myocardium 74. Further withdrawal of the catheter 44, as shown in FIG. 5B, results in engagement of the distal anchoring hooks 14B on the left with the myocardium 74 at a location which is displaced by an offset distance 80 in a direction of an axis of the elongated tubular passage 46. When comparing FIG. 5C with FIG. 5B, it can be seen that, due to the offset distance 80, the support frame 20 is eventually at an angle of approximately 60° relative to the axis of the elongated tubular passage 46. Although not blocking a mouth of the aneurysmic bulge 76, this serves to illustrate that the membrane 16 can be positioned in different select planes, as may be required, due to the flexibility of the frame construction 12 and various virtual triangles that are formed by connecting locations where the anchoring formations 14 anchor to the myocardium 74.

[0053] Referring again to FIGS. 1A, 1C, and 3A, the main frame 18 has a vertical height H1, a height from the distal anchoring hooks 14B to the proximal anchoring hooks 14C H2, the membrane 16 has a width W, and the elongated tubular passage 46 has a diameter D. These dimensions can be modified according to requirement, and the following table lists a number of examples:

[0054]

	H1	H2	W	D
	6	cm	3	cm	2.5	cm	1	cm
	7	cm	4	cm	3	cm	1.2	cm
	8	cm	5	cm	4	cm	1.5	cm
	8.5	cm	5.5	cm	5	cm	2	cm
	9.5	cm	6	cm	6	cm	2.2	cm
	9.5	cm	8	cm	7	cm	2.6	cm

[0055] The first row in the table lists the dimensions for the device 10 hereinbefore described which is used for blocking a relatively small aneurysmic bulge 76. Larger aneurysmic bulges can be blocked using slightly larger devices. As mentioned, certain diseases or alcoholism may cause general enlargement of endocardial cavities of a heart without necessarily creating a specific identifiable bulge. Larger devices can be used to block portions of these enlarged endocardial cavities. In such cases, it may also be possible to use two devices in a side-by-side arrangement or with their membranes overlapping one another.

[0056] FIG. 6 illustrates one such a larger device 110 that is inserted in the bottom of the left ventricle 152 of a heart 114. The main frame (not shown) of the device 110 is formed into a non-circular shape, so that an outline formed by corners 134 and 136 of a support frame of the device define a non-circular shape. A membrane 116 mounted on top of the support frame also defines a non-circular shape. The shape of the membrane 116 conforms approximately to a non-circular D-shape of the left ventricle 152 at a height where the membrane 116 is positioned. The same device 110 can be deformed into various different shapes, according to requirement.

[0057] FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate a frame construction 212 and anchoring formations 214 of a device according to an alternative embodiment of the invention. The frame construction 212 includes a main frame 218 and a support frame 220. The main frame 218 has a plurality of segments 222 having distal ends connected to one another at a common location 224. Proximal portions of the segments 222 can collapse toward one another and spring outwardly away from one another. The anchoring formations 214 include a distal anchoring screw 214A secured at the common location 224, and proximal anchoring hooks 214B on proximal ends of the segments 222. The support frame 220 includes a plurality of elements 232. The elements 232 have ends that are pivotally connected to one another at a common location 254. An opposing end of each element 232 is slidably secured to a respective one of the segments 222. The manner in which the segments 222 of the main frame 218 collapse is simultaneously replicated by the manner in which the elements 232 of the support frame 220 collapse. In use, the distal anchoring screw 214A is first screwed into a myocardium. A catheter is then withdrawn from the frame construction 212. Once the catheter is entirely removed from the frame construction 212, the proximal anchoring hooks 214B spring outwardly and embed themselves into the myocardium. The support frame 220 simultaneously moves from its collapsed condition into its expanded condition. A membrane (not shown) is secured to, unfolded by, and supported by the support frame 220.

[0058] The support frame of a device may be shaped so that a membrane attached to the support frame has a desired shape. FIGS. 8 and 9, for example, illustrate a membrane 316 that conforms approximately to a shape defined by an anterior wall 320 and a septum 322 of a heart. As shown in FIG. 8, the membrane 316 has a portion on the left having a radius R1 and a portion on the right having a radius R2 which is a multiple of the radius R1. The membrane 316 may be formed to have more than two radii of curvature. Referring to FIG. 9, it can be see that the membrane 316 is curved also when viewed on 9—9 in FIG. 8. The curved shape of the membrane 316 allows the membrane 316 to block off larger portions of the anterior wall 320 and the septum 322 without reducing the internal volume of the left ventricle by too great a degree.

[0059] It may also be possible to use the same device to block off either large or small cavities. FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate the same device 410 used for closing off a small ventricle 412 and a large ventricle 414, respectively. As in, for example, the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B, the device 410 has a frame construction 416 that can spring outwardly, and a membrane 418 secured and expanded by the frame construction 416. The frame construction 416 springs out more in FIG. 11 than in FIG. 10, and the membrane 416 is accordingly unfolded into a larger cross-sectional shape.

[0060] The support frame and anchoring formations of, for example, the device illustrated in FIG. 1A may be used for other purposes instead of or in addition to supporting a membrane as described. The frame construction 18 provides an electrically conductive path that can be used for left ventricular pacing. For example, one of the proximal anchoring hooks 14C may engage with and be sufficiently long to penetrate from a left ventricle through a septum into a right ventricle of a heart. A terminal of a pacemaker can then be inserted into the right ventricle and connected to the hook that penetrates through the septum. Electric current can conduct between the terminal of the pacemaker through the main frame 18 to other ones of the anchoring formations 14 connected to the myocardium of the left ventricle. The frame construction 12 also provides a strong support for mounting components that can be used for other purposes, such as an annulus component that can be positioned around the mitral valve, or a component that is used for reshaping a papillary muscle. The device 10 can also be used for delivering of drugs, proteins, stem cells, etc. to the heart.

[0061] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 12, a partitioning device 500 includes a generally circular membrane 501 which is mounted on a collapsible frame 502. The frame 502 has a plurality of stays 503 which extend radially from a central hub 504 for movement between the extended position shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 and a collapsed position as shown in FIG. 14. The stays 503 are connected to the hub 504 in such a way that rotation of the hub moves the stays between their extended and collapsed positions. Hooks or barbs 506 are provided at the outer ends of the stays for attaching the device to the walls of an organ, with the membrane in its extended state.

[0062] Then the device 500 is deployed in an organ, the membrane 501 divides the organ into two separate compartments. Those compartments will be determined by the physician and typically will consist of a functional compartment and a nonfunctional compartment. For example, in the case of a left ventricular aneurysm (an enlargement of one small part of the left ventricular myocardium), the device is positioned at the mouth of the aneurysm 507, as illustrated in FIG. 15, to divide the left ventricle into a nonfunctional part 508 consisting of the aneurysm itself, and a functional part 509 consisting of the remainder of the left ventricle. The elimination of communication between the aneurysm and the functional part of the ventricle will significantly improve the overall performance of the left ventricle. This procedure can be performed either during open chest surgery or by less invasive techniques such as laparoscopic or percutaneous delivery of the device to the inside of the ventricle.

[0063] In the case of congestive heart failure, the ventricle can similarly be divided into functional and nonfunctional parts, with improved overall ventricular performance. The elimination of one portion of the enlarged heart will prevent further cardiac enlargement and provide improved performance.

[0064] In the case of the stomach, the stomach could be divided into a nonfunctional part, i.e. the part which does not participate in digestion, and the remainder of the stomach which includes normal digestive processes.

[0065] The membrane is closely attached to the walls of the organ in order to prevent any communication between the two compartments. It can be elastic, non-elastic, non-porous, non-thrombogenic, and/or biocompatible. In one presently preferred embodiment, the membrane is fabricated of a mesh of elastin fibers (i.e. elastin proteins or a synthetic material) chosen to provide tensile strength and flexibility. The membrane can also have living cells (e.g., endothelial cells, myocytes, smooth muscle cells, or stem cells) and/or certain bioactive substances, such as heparin, on its surface.

[0066] In other embodiments, the membrane 501 can be rigid, or capable of changing size and shape to accommodate the size and shape of the organ. It can also be composed of hydrogels that change into a tendon-like structure and/or a bioresorbable material. It can also include a protein which will serve to attract the patient's own cells that will turn into myocytes and become a new myocardium.

[0067] As illustrated in FIGS. 16A–16D partitioning device 500 can be deployed with an instrument 511 which has an elongated tubular body 512. The device is carried within the tube in a collapsed state toward the distal end of the instrument. An operating rod 513 extends axially within the tubular body and is threadedly connected to hub 504 for advancing the device from the tubular body and rotating the hub to extend the membrane. A control knob 514 is provided at the proximal end of the operating rod.

[0068] In operation, the instrument is inserted into the body of the patient, and operating rod 513 is moved forward to advance the partitioning device from the distal end of tubular body 512. As the device is moving forward, control knob is turned in a clockwise direction to extend the membrane, as illustrated in FIG. 16B. The advancement and expansion continues until the membrane reaches its fully extended position, as illustrated in FIG. 16C. Once barbs 506 have been engaged with the walls of the organ, the control knob is turned in counterclockwise direction to disengage the operating rod from the hub, as illustrated in FIG. 16D, and the instrument is withdrawn from the body of the patient.

[0069] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 17, the partitioning device consists of a scaffold or ring 516 which is attached to the walls of the organ first, and a membrane 517 which is attached to the ring after the ring is in place. The scaffold has means such as mechanical devices (e.g. barbs or hooks) or an adhesive for attaching it to the walls of the organ and to the membrane. Both the scaffold and the membrane are collapsible, and can be introduced into the hollow organ through tubular devices such as an endoscope, a thoracoscope, or a catheter.

[0070] he partitioning device can be implanted in a number of ways. It can, for example, be implanted by a surgeon during a surgical procedure. It can also be implanted through an endoscope or a laparoscope during a laparoscopic procedure. Similarly, it can be implanted through a thoracoscope during a thoracoscopic procedure, and it can be delivered to the inside of an organ through a long tubular device such as a catheter, either percutaneously, orally, or by some other minimally invasive approach.

[0071] FIG. 18 illustrates the percutaneous insertion of a partitioning device 519 into a chamber of the heart 521 through the brachial artery 522. In this embodiment, a catheter 523 is passed through the artery and into the heart, and the partitioning device is inserted and deployed through the catheter. The catheter preferably has a mesh-like structure to prevent the occurrence of an embolism during the procedure.

[0072] FIG. 19 illustrates the thoracoscopic placement of a partitioning device 519 in heart chamber 521. In this embodiment, the device is introduced and deployed through a thoracoscope 526 which is inserted into the patient's body through his thorax 527.

[0073] If desired, more than one partitioning device can be employed, e.g. to treat more than one condition in an organ. FIG. 20, for example, illustrates the use of two percutaneously inserted membranes 529, 531 in the simultaneous treatment of a ventricular aneurysm 532 and an enlarged ventricle 533. In this particular embodiment, the membranes are introduced into the ventricle through two separate catheters 534, 536 which pass through the brachial artery. Alternatively, they can be introduced either simultaneously of successively through a single catheter, if desired.

[0074] FIG. 21 illustrates a similar situation in which membranes 529, 531 are introduced thoracoscopically to threat a ventricular aneurysm 532 and an enlarged ventricle 533. In this embodiment, both of the membranes are introduced through a single thoracoscope 537, with membrane 529 being implanted first, followed by membrane 531.

[0075] If desired, the partitioning devices can be constructed to facilitate removal from the hollow organ after a period of time. In the case of morbid obesity, for example, the devices can be implanted in the stomach, and in the event that they becomes too uncomfortable, they can be removed in the same manner in which they were installed.

[0076] The invention has a number of important features and advantages. It permits diseases caused by dysfunction of hollow organs to be treated simply and effectively without difficult surgical procedures.

[0077] While particular forms of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, it will be apparent that various modifications and improvements can be made to the invention. For example an inflatable dividing element may be used to occlude an atrial appendage of the heart. Moreover, individual features of embodiments of the invention may be shown in some drawings and not in others, but those skilled in the art will recognize that individual features of one embodiment of the invention can be combined with any or all the features of another embodiment. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the specific embodiments illustrated. It is intended that this invention to be defined by the scope of the appended claims as broadly as the prior art will permit.

[0078] Terms such a “element”, “member”, “device”, “section”, “portion”, “steps”, “means” and words of similar import when used herein shall not be construed as invoking the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112(16) unless the following claims expressly use the terms “means” followed by a particular function without specific structure or “step”followed by a particular function without specific action. All patents and patent applications referred to above are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.