US 12,427,284 B2 · Electrically conductive hydrogels usable as lead extensions, apparatus for delivery of a hydrogel into the vasculature, and methods of treating ventricular arrhythmia with electrically conductive hydrogels injected in the venous system

Abstract

A conductive hydrogel precursor solution cures after injection into the vasculature of the myocardium. The vasculature acts as a mold for the hydrogel and allows for a pacing signal to be conducted across the myocardium and not at a single point like traditional pacing leads. The catheter-based delivery can accurately place the hydrogels into the myocardial veins and can fill the venous tributaries. In situ crosslinking of the hydrogel precursor solution is achieved through several mechanisms, such as redox initiation by mixing a reducing reagent and oxidizing agent after injection. Conductivity is achieved by doping in conductive polymers or other conductive elements such as ionic species, metallic nanoparticles, or graphene nanoplatelets. To ensure long-term conductivity, hydrogel macromers may be synthesized without hydrolytically labile groups such as esters, and the conductive elements may be conjugated directly to the hydrogel matrix.

Claims17

Dependent claims

An apparatus for delivery of a curable substance into vasculature or an organ, comprising:

a mixing catheter having a first hollow lumen separated from a second hollow lumen, the first hollow lumen and the second hollow lumen being joined into an opening at a distal end of the mixing catheter;
a mechanism to deliver precursors of the curable substance, the mechanism to deliver the precursors of the curable substance being attached to the proximal end of the mixing catheter;
a mechanism for mixing of the precursors of the curable substance flowing in the first hollow lumen and the second hollow lumen to form the curable substance;
a mechanism to cleave the curable substance from the mixing catheter, including:
(i) a lasso-like member comprising a loop, wherein the loop has an expanded configuration and a contracted configuration, and an actuator to selectively move the loop into the expanded configuration or the contracted configuration;
or
(ii) flaps elastically biased toward a close position, the flaps forming a valve;
and
a mechanism to anchor the mixing catheter or prevent backflow of the curable substance.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

17/640,147Filed 4 Sep 2020 · us provisional application

Priority

5 Sep 2019

Published

US 2022/0305234 A129 Sep 2022

Granted

30 Sep 2025

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

A61M 25/0068
Characterised by the distal end, e.g. tips: static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure
A61L 27/16
Macromolecular materials: obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
A61L 27/18
Macromolecular materials: obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
A61L 27/50
Materials for grafts or prostheses or for coating grafts or prostheses: materials characterised by their function or physical properties , e.g.…

Electrically conductive hydrogels usable as lead extensions, apparatus for delivery of a hydrogel into the vasculature, and methods of treating ventricular arrhythmia with electrically conductive hydrogels injected in the venous system

Life of this patent

Electrically conductive hydrogels usable as lead extensions, apparatus for delivery of a hydrogel into the vasculature, and methods of treating ventricular arrhythmia with electrically conductive hydrogels injected in the venous system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17