A new support device may help when other treatment options run out.

The cap-like sheath at right holds promise as a way to support, shape up and treat hearts weakened by serious disease.

In an era of increasingly complex medical technology, the woven device looks low-tech. But don’t be fooled. The proprietary fabric is the culmination of years of research to ensure that it imposes a carefully engineered constraint on the heart. “It’s come as a surprise to many that it’s been as effective as it appears to be” in preliminary studies of patients, says Randall C. Starling, M.D., director of Heart Transplant Medical Services at The Cleveland Clinic. If new, ongoing research yields positive results, the cap may someday offer greater strength,…

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