Implantable device for penetrating and delivering agents to cardiac tissue

A method of locally altering electrical activity in cardiac tissue at a selected site in the region of the heart, including:

• measuring electrical activity in cardiac tissue, to identify a potential implantation site;
• introducing a first electrically inactive and biocompatible implantable device into the region of the heart, and at least partially embedding said first implantable device into cardiac tissue at the site to effect an implantation.

An apparatus for locally modifying electrical action within a heart comprising:

• a biocompatible electrically inactive, implantable device including a means for penetrating cardiac tissue to effect an implantation of the implantable device at a designated site in a heart, to modify electrical action in the cardiac tissue at and proximate the site;
• wherein the implantable device at least over an outermost portion thereof that includes an exposed surface, is constructed of a biocompatible material selected from the group consisting of platinum black, titanium nitride sintered platinum, roughened platinum, roughened MP35N and roughened titanium, to enhance the effective surface area of the exposed surface and thereby augment electrical coupling of the implantable device and the cardiac tissue.

An apparatus for supplying a pharmacological agent locally to a depth within cardiac tissue including:

• a biocompatible electrically inactive structure including a permanently implantable tissue penetrating element located distally of the structure and adapted for a penetration of cardiac tissue to a depth within surrounding cardiac tissue, and a proximal portion of the structure adapted to remain exposed outside of the cardiac tissue when the penetrating element is surrounded by the cardiac tissue, and wherein the structure, at least at said penetrating element, is adapted to deliver a pharmacological agent to the surrounding cardiac tissue.

A process for delivering pharmacological agents at a depth within cardiac tissue at a selected site in a heart, including:

• delivering a biocompatible structure to a heart, and causing an electrically inactive and permanently implantable tissue penetrating element of the structure to penetrate cardiac tissue at a selected site in the heart;
• providing a pharmacological agent to the penetrating element, and
• after causing the penetration of the penetrating element, delivering the pharmacological agent from a controlled release matrix disposed along the penetrating element to the surrounding tissue.

A process for delivering an angiogenic growth factor to a heart, including:

• penetrating a delivery device into heart tissue at a selected site within the heart;
• and
• with the delivery device so penetrated, delivering an angiogenic growth factor to the tissue through the delivery device.

An apparatus for locally modifying electrical action within the heart, comprising:

• a biocompatible, electrically inactive, implantable device including a means for penetrating cardiac tissue to effect an implantation of the implantable device at a designated site in a heart, to modify electrical action in the cardiac tissue at the designated site;
• and
• a catheter releasably coupled to the implantable device to allow a decoupling and withdrawal of the catheter after said implantation.

An apparatus for supplying a pharmacological agent locally to a depth within cardiac tissue, including:

• a biocompatible, electrically inactive including a distally located tissue penetrating element adapted for penetration of cardiac tissue to a depth within surrounding cardiac tissue, and a proximal portion of the structure adapted to remain exposed outside of the cardiac tissue when the penetrating element is surrounded by the cardiac tissue, and wherein the structure, at least at said penetrating element, is adapted to deliver a pharmacological agent to the surrounding cardiac tissue;
• and
• a delivery device releasably coupled to the biocompatible structure to allow a decoupling and withdrawal of the delivery device after said penetration.