Implantable systems and stents containing cells for therapeutic uses

• US 20060136049A1
• Filed: 10/21/2005
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nicholas A. Rojo
• Original Assignee: Nicholas A. Rojo
• Inventors: Rojo, Nicholas A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,788,978 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.420
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/022 Artificial gland structures using bioreactors hemodialysis A61M1/16; hemofiltration A61M1/34; other extracorporeal blood treatment A61M1/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/82 Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95; for closing wounds, or holding wounds closed A61B17/04 - A61B17/115; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0067 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1652 Filter with duct, e.g. filtering element incorporated in a flow line, tube, duct

Abstract

An implantable system includes cells that produce and release a therapeutic agent, or agents, to a host in need. The system can include cells capable of eluting therapeutic agents in response to changing physiological conditions within a host. The system may comprise naked cells, encapsulated cells, or a mixture of non-encapsulating and encapsulated cells. The system may also comprise cells, and/or cell groups, of different origins. The implantable device may be placed intra-vascular, within bone marrow, within soft tissue, in the peritoneal cavity, or intra-hepatic, etc. The system can be comprised of a stent, or like devices. Such stents and like devices may optionally include port(s), catheter(s), and containment envelope systems for holding the above cells.

Claims

1. A medical device for implantation in a living host, said device containing cell components for delivering therapeutic agents to the host comprising a carrier supporting a plurality of biologically active cell components protected from the host immune system, said cell components adapted to deliver therapeutic agents in response to a stimulus in the physiology of the host.

2. A medical device of claim 1 wherein said carrier comprises a tubular stent for implantation in a lumen of the host, said stent having a lumen-wall contacting surface for securing said stent in said lumen and a lumen-exposed surface permitting flow through the lumen, said cell components located on said stent.

3. A medical device of claim 2 wherein said tubular stent has a mesh structure, said mesh structure having a collapsed state and an expanded state.

4. A medical device of claim 2 wherein said tubular stent includes barbs extending from said lumen-wall contacting surface for engaging said lumen wall.

5. A medical device of claim 3 wherein said tubular stent is composed of a pervious polymer.

6. A medical device of claim 3 wherein said tubular stent is composed of a porous alginate.

7. A medical device of claim 2 wherein a porous containment envelop is attached within said tubular stent, said porous containment envelop composed of an immuno-barrier and said cell components are disposed within said containment envelop.

8. A medical device for implantation in a living host, said device containing cell components for delivering therapeutic agents to the host comprising an elongated catheter having a tip for insertion into a living host, side holes in said tip for communicating with said host, a porous sac attached to said tip enclosing said side holes and forming a containment envelop between said sac and said tip, biologically active cells disposed in said containment envelop, said biologically active cells adapted to elute therapeutic agents through said sac in response to a stimulus.

9. A medical device of claim 8 wherein said catheter is composed of two lumen, one of said lumen providing nutrient to said containment envelop and the other lumen for removing waste from said containment envelop.

10. A medical device of claim 8 wherein said catheter is connected to a port providing a transcutaneous passageway, said port having a base for attachment to the host, said port having an inlet covered with a diaphram, said inlet connected to an outlet, said catheter connected to said outlet.