A Method to Prevent Heart Dilation and Progression to Heart
Failure Stanford University, 2006 - $20,000 Congestive heart
failure is a lethal disease characterized by the inability of
the heart to pump enough blood to meet the body's demands. Up to
two-thirds of cases of CHF are initially caused by a heart
attack, putting the cardiac wall under significant stress and
triggering a series of changes that can cause the heart to
enlarge. Currently there are no effective treatments for CHF, as
drugs slow down but do not prevent the progression of the
disease, and passive restraints to support the heart and prevent
dilation are highly invasive and aimed only at individuals with
end-stage CHF. To combat these problems, this E-Team is
developing a minimally invasive, polymer-based approach to
physically support the heart of recent heart attack victims,
preventing the heart from enlarging. The device involves the
delivery of a primer and polymer that crosslink in the
pericardial space around the heart. First, the heart