Method for delivery of therapeutic agents to the heart
US6152141A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 8, 1997 |
| Grant date | Nov 28, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 8, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61M2210/125
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method for delivering a therapeutic agent directly to the heart employing minimally invasive techniques and concepts. In particular, the delivery of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) is performed endovascularly or endoscopically to a region of a patient's heart treated with transmyocardial revascularization (TMR). A system is provided for inducing cardioplegic arrest. An aortic occlusion device has an inflatable balloon which occludes the ascending aorta when inflated. Cardioplegic fluid may be infused through a lumen of the aortic occlusion device to stop the heart while the patient's circulatory system is supported on cardiopulmonary bypass. A side-firing fiberoptic laser is introduced through the aortic occlusion device in the endovascular technique to perform TMR. Subsequently, a therapeutic agent delivery catheter is directed into one of the coronary arteries to deliver and dissipate the VEGF into the surrounding vascular plexus to promote angiogenesis stimulation. Alternatively, a therapeutic agent delivery material saturated or coated with VEGF could be sutured to the epicardial surface of the heart, using thoracoscopic techniques, for timed release delivery of th…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.