Methods and compositions for treating post-cardial infarction damage

Abstract

Methods and compositions for treating post-myocardial infarction damage are herein disclosed. In some embodiments, a carrier with a treatment agent may be fabricated. The carrier can be formulated from a bioerodable, sustained-release substance. The resultant loaded carrier may then be suspended in at least one component of a two-component matrix system for simultaneous delivery to a post-myocardial infarction treatment area.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11 / 447,340, filed Jun. 5, 2006, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11 / 361,920, filed Feb. 23, 2006, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11 / 110,223, filed Apr. 19, 2005, now pending.FIELD OF INVENTION[0002]Post-myocardial infarction treatments and compositions.BACKGROUND OF INVENTION[0003]Ischemic heart disease typically results from an imbalance between the myocardial blood flow and the metabolic demand of the myocardium. Progressive atherosclerosis with increasing occlusion of coronary arteries leads to a reduction in coronary blood flow. “Atherosclerosis” is a type of arteriosclerosis in which cells including smooth muscle cells and macrophages, fatty substances, cholesterol, cellular waste product, calcium and fibrin build up in the inner lining of a body vessel. “Arteriosclerosis” refers to the thickening and hardening of arteries. Blood fl...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]A device that includes a first and second needle useful for delivering individual components of a gel is herein disclosed. Various needle assembly configurations prevent inadvertent mixture of the gel components but ensure that the components can admix within a patient's tissue to form a gel composition.

[0010]In alternative embodiment, the distal ends of a first and second needle are moveable relative to each other. The needles can be biased toward a separated configuration, and the separation distance of the needle tips can shorten when the needles engage a patient's tissue.

Problems solved by technology

Ischemic heart disease typically results from an imbalance between the myocardial blood flow and the metabolic demand of the myocardium.

However, an MI can also be a result of minor blockages where, for example, there is a rupture of the cholesterol plaque resulting in blood clotting within the artery.

Thus, the flow of blood is blocked and downstream cellular damage occurs.

This damage can cause irregular rhythms that can be fatal, even though the remaining muscle is strong enough to pump a sufficient amount of blood.

Such procedures do not, however, treat actual tissue damage to the heart.

An important component in the progression to heart failure is remodeling of the heart due to mismatched mechanical forces between the infracted region and the healthy tissue resulting in uneven stress and strain distribution in the left ventricle.

In other areas, remote regions experience hypertrophy (thickening) resulting in an overall enlargement of the left ventricle.

These changes also correlate with physiological changes that result in increase in blood pressure and worsening systolic and diastolic performance.

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