Method and apparatus for demand injury in stimulating angiogenesis
AssigneeSciMed Life Systems, Inc.
InventorsRichard L. Mueller, U. Hiram Chee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various methods and devices for treating a patient who has lost, or is at risk of losing cardiac function by cardiac ischemia are disclosed. Treatment includes first imaging a patient's heart, or a portion thereof, to identify underperfused regions of cardiac muscle, and a source of oxygenated blood that is proximate to the underperfused region. Between the underperfused regions and the oxygenated blood source, a target area is selected where thermal or mechanical injury is introduced, and optionally reintroduced, to convert initial capillary blush, resulting from the injury,
Claims9
A method of treating a patient at risk of loss of cardiac function by cardiac ischemia, comprising
- (a) imaging the patient's heart, or a portion thereof, to identify (i) an underperfused region of cardiac muscle, (ii) a source of oxygenated blood that is proximate a boundary of the underperfused region, and (ii) a target area that includes said underperfused region boundary and a tissue expanse lying between said oxygenated blood supply and said boundary;
- and
- (b) at each of a plurality of sites throughout the target area, applying a tool effective to produce an annulus of injury about a core of healthy cells in the myocardial layer of the heart.
A tool for use in stimulating angiogenesis in a patient's heart, comprising
- a tapered tissue-piercing portion adapted to pierce a selected target site in the heart,
- injury producing elements that are disposed or can be deployed in a 1-4 mm inner-diameter annulus about the tissue piercing portion, and
- a handle operatively connected to the tissue-piercing portion and injury-producing elements, for use in (i) placing the tissue-piercing portion at a selected target site outside the heart (ii) inserting said portion into the site, to a depth which disposes the injury-producing elements within the upper 1-3 mm of the myocardium, and (iii) manipulating the tool to effect an annulus of tissue injury within the myocardium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.