The strain relief device of this invention reduces injury and danger of serious infection at driveline skin exit sites caused by routine patient activities and accidental stresses on the drivelines of ventricle assist devices and similar externally powered implanted medical devices. The device comprises a sleeve that forms an adherent biological interface with the skin and compliant seals between the sleeve and driveline. The compliant seals mechanically decouple linear and rotary driveline motions from the sleeve, while isolating the patients internal tissue from the outside environment. This mechanical decoupling reduces stresses and injury to the adherent interface, thereby reducing the risk of bacterial entry and infection. The device may be inserted into the patient as part of the driveline assembly implantation procedure, and is positioned such that the skin contacts and adheres to the outer diameter of the sleeve. It may also be partially or completely replaced or retrofitted to previously implanted drivelines in a relatively simple procedure.
