Techniques for delivery of stem cell and related therapies to treat cardiac conditions
First Claim
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1. An implantable apparatus for treating a myocardium, said apparatus comprising:
- a structure configured to hold cells and configured for implant in a body at a location outside of a myocardium;
a pump configured to move cells from the cell-holding structure and configured for implant in a body;
acquisition circuitry configured to acquire cardiac electrical activity information and configured for implant in a body;
stimulation circuitry configured to output electrical cardiac pacing pulses and electrical cell conditioning pulses and configured for implant in a body;
a lead configured for implant in a body, the lead having at least one opening, a conduit having a proximal end in fluid communication with the pump and a distal end in fluid communication with the at least one opening, and electrodes at the distal end of the conduit electrically coupled to the stimulation circuitry and adapted for positioning adjacent the myocardium; and
control logic configured for implant in a body and configured to;
detect cardiac events within the information including T waves;
activate the pump so as to deliver cells through the conduit and at least one opening to the myocardium based on the detected T waves; and
activate the stimulation circuitry so as to deliver cardiac pacing pulses through the electrodes to myocardium at a pre-determined rate, and deliver one or more cell conditioning pulses through the electrodes to the one or more cells implanted in the myocardium.
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Abstract
An exemplary method includes acquiring cardiac electrical activity information, detecting a T wave and, based on the detecting, calling for delivery of matter to the heart where the matter may include one or more of stem cells, progenitor cells, nutrients and drugs. Another exemplary method includes calling for delivery of electrical energy to cells destined for implantation in the body or cells already implanted in the body. Such delivery may be timed according to cardiac electrical activity and/or delivered at an energy level below a capture threshold of neighboring tissue. Various other exemplary technologies are also disclosed.
37 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An implantable apparatus for treating a myocardium, said apparatus comprising:
- a structure configured to hold cells and configured for implant in a body at a location outside of a myocardium;
a pump configured to move cells from the cell-holding structure and configured for implant in a body;
acquisition circuitry configured to acquire cardiac electrical activity information and configured for implant in a body;
stimulation circuitry configured to output electrical cardiac pacing pulses and electrical cell conditioning pulses and configured for implant in a body;
a lead configured for implant in a body, the lead having at least one opening, a conduit having a proximal end in fluid communication with the pump and a distal end in fluid communication with the at least one opening, and electrodes at the distal end of the conduit electrically coupled to the stimulation circuitry and adapted for positioning adjacent the myocardium; and
control logic configured for implant in a body and configured to;
detect cardiac events within the information including T waves;
activate the pump so as to deliver cells through the conduit and at least one opening to the myocardium based on the detected T waves; and
activate the stimulation circuitry so as to deliver cardiac pacing pulses through the electrodes to myocardium at a pre-determined rate, and deliver one or more cell conditioning pulses through the electrodes to the one or more cells implanted in the myocardium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
- a structure configured to hold cells and configured for implant in a body at a location outside of a myocardium;
Specification