System for conditioning surfaces in vivo

#The present invention relates to systems and methods for conditioning various surfaces in vivo generally, and more particularly to systems and methods for inhibiting blood platelet adhesion on such surfaces, and specifically blood platelet adhesion to surfaces of implanted medical devices.

#Many surfaces in the human body that are exposed to blood flow are at risk of blood component deposit formation thereon. Such deposits can include, for example, blood platelets, fibrinogen, minerals such as calcium, and the like. Deposit formation on surfaces located at areas of the body which are critical to blood transmission can be detrimental or even hazardous to the person's health. For example, deposit formation on heart valves, veins, and arteries can restrict the flow of blood therethrough and/or reduce the functionality thereof. As a result, deposit formation can lead to obstructed blood flow through at least portions of the body, which limited blood flow can have serious negative implications on the health of the person.

#A common form of coagulative deposition on surfaces within the body is thrombosis. This phenomenon is a result of cumulative blood component adhesion to a surface, and can have a variety of causes. In some cases, thrombosis is believed to be caused by turbulence in the blood stream, with such turbulence causing relatively forceful impact among red blood cells that causes damage to the cells, and ultimately proneness to adhere to surfaces.

#FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a surface conditioning system of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a magnified image of a clean pyrolytic carbon valve assembly;

#FIG. 3 is a magnified image of a pyrolytic carbon valve assembly subsequent to exposure to human blood; and

#The objects and advantages enumerated above together with other objects, features, and advances represented by the present invention will now be presented in terms of detailed embodiments described with reference to the attached drawing figures which are intended to be representative of various possible configurations of the invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the invention are recognized as being within the grasp of those having ordinary skill in the art.

#With reference now to the drawing figures, and first to FIG. 1, a system 10 of the present invention is preferably disposed in the human body, which location is identified by area 12. Although the components of system 10 are illustrated in FIG. 1 as being in close proximity to one another, it is contemplated that such components may be disposed in a distributed fashion in the body. Due to the electrically coupled nature of the components of system 10, however, it is likely that most embodiments of the invention involve component proximity that is sufficiently close to enable electrical coupling through conventional means.

#In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, system 10 includes an electrical energy source 14, a medical device 16, and a return electrode 18. In some embodiments of the invention, return electrode 18 is incorporated into the structure of electrical energy source 14, such that a separate electrode element 18 is not required. In preferred embodiments, electrical energy source 14 is electrically coupled to medical device 16 through wire 20, and electrically coupled to electrode 18 through wire 22. Other conventional mechanisms for electrically coupling the components of system 10, however, are contemplated as being useful in the present invention. Depending upon the application, wire 20 may be connected to medical device 16 in general, or may instead be connected to medical device 16 at a specific location thereof, with the distinction being which portion of medical device 16 is targeted for receiving electrical current from electrical energy source 14. In many embodiments, it is desired to deliver electrical current to medical device 16 in its entirety. In some embodiments, however, it is desired that less than the entirety of medical device 16 receive electrical current from electrical energy source 14. Such distinctions direct the location of where current should be allowed to travel in medical device 16 from the wire connection point.