A device for treating cardiac disease of a heart having an upper portion and a
lower portion divided by an AV groove, the device including a jacket adapted
to be secured to the heart, and a delivery source for the delivery of one or more
therapeutic agents to the surface of the heart. The jacket is fabricated from a
flexible material defining a volume between an upper and a lower end, the jacket
being adapted to be adjusted on the heart to snugly conform to an external geometry
of the heart and assume a maximum adjusted volume for the jacket to constrain expansion
of the heart beyond the maximum adjusted volume during diastole and permit substantially
unimpeded contraction of the heart during systole. As a result of the flexible
material, the jacket allows unimpeded diastolic filling of the heart. Also described
is a method for treating cardiac disease including surgically accessing the heart,
applying the treatment device of the invention, securing the treatment device to
the heart, and surgically closing access to the heart while leaving the treatment
device on the heart.
