Implants possessing a surface of endothelial cells genetically-modified to inhibit intimal thickening
US5957972A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 23, 1997 |
| Grant date | Sep 28, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 23, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S623/918
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Autologous and synthetic vascular implants that possess an external monolayer of endothelial cells genetically modified to express at least one of a number of therapeutic agents useful for the inhibition of smooth muscle cell proliferation are provided. In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the endothelial cells coating the implant are genetically-modified to express and secrete the protein interferon-gamma. The use of such an implant in vascular and heart surgeries would substantially increase both the patency of the graft and the rate of surgical success by inhibiting the expansive growth of the vessel or heart lumen in response to surgical damage, which is a major cause of graft failure.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.