초록 ▼

A transmyocardial revascularization system including a plurality of inserts formed of a material to elicit a healing response in tissue of the myocardium and deployment instruments and associated components for deploying the inserts into the wall of the myocardium. The inserts are arranged to be dis

A transmyocardial revascularization system including a plurality of inserts formed of a material to elicit a healing response in tissue of the myocardium and deployment instruments and associated components for deploying the inserts into the wall of the myocardium. The inserts are arranged to be disposed within respective lumens or channels in the wall of the myocardium. The inserts can take various forms, e.g., be solid members, tubular members, or porous members, and may be resorbable, partially resorbable or non-resorbable. In some embodiments the inserts are arranged to be left in place within the channels in the wall of the myocardium to result in plural lumens which enable blood to flow therethrough and into contiguous capillaries. The deployment instruments are arranged to pierce the tissue of the myocardium from either the endocardium or the epicardium to insert the inserts into the myocardium, depending on the particular deployment instrument used. The deployment instruments may make use of a stabilizing device to stabilize them during the procedure of inserting the inserts into the myocardium. A controller may also be provided as part of the system to coordinate the operation of the deployment instrument with the cardiac cycle. The formation of the lumens can be achieved either by the inserts or by some other means, such as a piercing tip or an energy applicator forming a portion of the instrument. The inserts may include one or more of pharmaceuticals, biologically active agents, radiopaque materials, etc.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A system for vascularizing the myocardium and/or associated tissue of a living being to produce at least one lumen in communication with the being's arterial system, said system comprising a plurality of inserts and a delivery system, said inserts comprising cells, said delivery system

We claim: 1. A system for vascularizing the myocardium and/or associated tissue of a living being to produce at least one lumen in communication with the being's arterial system, said system comprising a plurality of inserts and a delivery system, said inserts comprising cells, said delivery system comprising channel producing means arranged for creating at least one channel in the myocardium and/or associated tissue, said delivery system arranged to deposit said inserts into the at least one channel. 2. The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one lumen is a new blood carrying vessel and wherein said cells inserts deposited in the at least one channel are operative to produce the new blood carrying vessel. 3. The system of claim 1 wherein said inserts effect revascularization of the myocardium and/or associated tissue by the formation of a new blood carrying vessel. 4. The system of claim 1 wherein said cells are coated on said insert. 5. The system of claim 2 wherein said inserts serve to elicit a healing response in the myocardium and/or associated tissue. 6. The system of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of at least one of said inserts additionally comprises one or more of drugs, pharmaceuticals, biologically active materials, growth factors, radio-opaque materials and antioxidants. 7. The system of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of at least one of said inserts is at least partially resorbable. 8. The system of claim 7 wherein said portion of said at least one of said inserts comprises polyglycolic acid, polydiaxonone, polycaprolactone, collagen, hyaluronic acid, oxidized regenerated cellulose, or polymer composites. 9. The system of claim 1 wherein said channel producing means comprises piercing means. 10. The system of claim 9 wherein said piercing means comprises a mechanical means. 11. The system of claim 10 wherein said mechanical means comprises rotational cutting, boring, puncturing, or slicing. 12. The system of claim 9 wherein said piercing means comprises energy application means. 13. The system of claim 12 wherein said energy application means provides energy selected from the group consisting of one or more of electrical, thermal, electromagnetic, vibratory, hydraulic, pneumatic, and radiation. 14. The system of claim 1 wherein said channel producing means is arranged for creating plural channels in the myocardium and/or associated tissue and wherein said delivery system is arranged to deposit said inserts into the plural channels. 15. The system of claim 1 additionally comprising depth limitation means. 16. The system of claim 1 additionally comprising stabilizing means. 17. The system of claim 1 additionally comprising controller means to coordinate deployment of said inserts with the cardiac cycle. 18. The system of claim 1 wherein said delivery system is arranged to introduce said inserts via a transthoracic route. 19. The system of claim 1 wherein said delivery system is arranged to introduce said inserts via a percutaneous transvascular route. 20. A method of revascularizing the myocardium and/or associated tissue of a living being comprising: (a) providing at least one insert comprising cells; (b) providing a delivery system for said at least one insert, said delivery system comprising channel producing means; (c) operating said channel producing means to create at least one channel in the myocardium and/or associated tissue; and (d) introducing said at least one insert into said at least one channel. 21. The method of claim 20 wherein said delivery system creates plural channels in the myocardium and/or associated tissue, said method comprising providing plural inserts, each insert of which comprising cells, and introducing said inserts into respective ones of said plural channels. 22. The method of claim 20 wherein said introduction of said at least one insert into said channel results in the formation of a new blood carrying vessel coupled to the being's arterial system. 23. The method of claim 22 wherein said at least one insert serves to elicit a healing response in said myocardium and/or associated tissue. 24. The system of claim 23 wherein seeded cell structure of said at least one insert comprises cells which causes revascularization of the myocardium, and/or associated by forming a new blood carrying vessel.