418 results about "Infarction" patented technology

Various methods and devices are disclosed for improving cardiac function in hearts having zones of infarcted (akinetic) and aneurysmal (dyskinetic) tissue regions. The methods and devices reduce the radius of curvature in walls of the heart proximal infarcted and aneurysmal regions to reduce wall stress and improve pumping efficiency. The inventive methods and related devices include splinting of the chamber wall proximal the infarcted region and various other devices and methods including suture and patch techniques.

Various methods and devices are disclosed for improving cardiac function in hearts having zones of infarcted (akinetic) and aneurysmal (dyskinetic) tissue regions. The methods and devices reduce the radius of curvature in walls of the heart proximal infarcted and aneurysmal regions to reduce wall stress and improve pumping efficiency. The inventive methods and related devices include splinting of the chamber wall proximal the infarcted region and various other devices and methods including suture and patch techniques.

A method and system for propagation of myocardial infarction from delayed enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DE-MRI) to cine MRI is disclosed. A reference frame is selected in a cine MRI sequence. Deformation fields are calculated within the cine MRI sequence to register the frames of the cine MRI sequence to the reference frame. A DE-MRI image having an infarction region is registered to the reference frame of the cine MRI sequence. The DE-MRI image may be registered to the infarction region using a hybrid registration algorithm that unifies both intensity and feature points into a single cost function. Infarction information in the DE-MRI image is then propagated cardiac phases of the frames in the cine MRI sequence based on the registration of the DE-MRI image to the reference frame and the plurality of deformation fields calculated within the cine MRI sequence.

A method and system for propagation of myocardial infarction from delayed enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DE-MRI) to cine MRI is disclosed. A reference frame is selected in a cine MRI sequence. Deformation fields are calculated within the cine MRI sequence to register the frames of the cine MRI sequence to the reference frame. A DE-MRI image having an infarction region is registered to the reference frame of the cine MRI sequence. The DE-MRI image may be registered to the infarction region using a hybrid registration algorithm that unifies both intensity and feature points into a single cost function. Infarction information in the DE-MRI image is then propagated cardiac phases of the frames in the cine MRI sequence based on the registration of the DE-MRI image to the reference frame and the plurality of deformation fields calculated within the cine MRI sequence.

Systems and methods for noninvasive assessment of cardiac tissue properties and cardiac parameters using ultrasound techniques are disclosed. Determinations of myocardial tissue stiffness, tension, strain, strain rate, and the like, may be used to assess myocardial contractility, myocardial ischemia and infarction, ventricular filling and atrial pressures, and diastolic functions. Non-invasive systems in which acoustic techniques, such as ultrasound, are employed to acquire data relating to intrinsic tissue displacements are disclosed. Non-invasive systems in which ultrasound techniques are used to acoustically stimulate or palpate target cardiac tissue, or induce a response at a cardiac tissue site that relates to cardiac tissue properties and / or cardiac parameters are also disclosed.

Various methods and devices are disclosed for improving cardiac function in hearts having zones of infarcted (akinetic) and aneurysmal (dyskinetic) tissue regions. The methods and devices reduce the radius of curvature in walls of the heart proximal infarcted and aneurysmal regions to reduce wall stress and improve pumping efficiency. The inventive methods and related devices include splinting of the chamber wall proximal the infarcted region and various other devices and methods including suture and patch techniques.

The invention provides a disposable sensor patch for the non-invasive detection of heart disease. The patch is placed on a person's chest area for automatic analysis of ECG. The heart condition is indicated via an indicator integrated within the patch. The patch is inexpensive and simple for self-administration. In one embodiment, the status of the heart is indicated via multiple LEDs. The detection and indication typically occurs, within 24 hours or sooner if a condition is readily identifiable. The patch is thin, flexible, and incorporates a battery, ECG amplifier, and a processor for analyzing ECG waveform and indicating the heart condition. A software algorithm searches for a cardiac abnormality such as arrhythmia, bradycardia, tachycardia, fibrillation, mycocardial infarction, ischemia, long-QT syndrome, blocks, late potentials, and premature contractions. In another embodiment, results and relevant ECG data are stored in memory for later retrieval.

A method and apparatus for prevention and reduction of myocardial infarct size and / or expansion and heart remodeling by partial, controllable and reversible obstruction of the venous blood flow to the heart. As a result, the ventricular wall stress and dilation are reduced. Blood flow is maintained at a safe level for the duration of treatment. The apparatus consists of a catheter with an occlusion balloon and a control and monitoring system.

The delivery of biological compounds to ischemic and / or infarcted tissue are described herein where such a system may include a deployment catheter and an attached imaging hood deployable into an expanded configuration. In use, the imaging hood is placed against or adjacent to a region of tissue to be imaged in a body lumen that is normally filled with an opaque bodily fluid such as blood. A translucent or transparent fluid, such as saline, can be pumped into the imaging hood until the fluid displaces any blood, thereby leaving a clear region of tissue to be imaged via an imaging element in the deployment catheter. Additionally, any number of therapeutic tools can also be passed through the deployment catheter and into the imaging hood for performing any number of procedures on the tissue for identifying, locating, and / or accessing ischemic and / or infarcted tissue.

Systems and methods for noninvasive assessment of cardiac tissue properties and cardiac parameters using ultrasound techniques are disclosed. Determinations of myocardial tissue stiffness, tension, strain, strain rate, and the like, may be used to assess myocardial contractility, myocardial ischemia and infarction, ventricular filling and atrial pressures, and diastolic functions. Non-invasive systems in which acoustic techniques, such as ultrasound, are employed to acquire data relating to intrinsic tissue displacements are disclosed. Non-invasive systems in which ultrasound techniques are used to acoustically stimulate or palpate target cardiac tissue, or induce a response at a cardiac tissue site that relates to cardiac tissue properties and / or cardiac parameters are also disclosed.

A method for reducing left ventricular volume, which comprises identifying infarcted tissue during open chest surgery; reducing left ventricle volume while preserving the ventricular apex; and realigning the ventricular apex, such that the realigning step comprises closing the lower or apical portion of said ventricle to achieve appropriate functional contractile geometry of said ventricle in a dyskinetic ventricle of a heart.

Among >300 miRNAs known to date, miR-1 is considered muscle-specific. Here we show that that miR-1 overexpressed in individuals with coronary artery disease, and when overexpressed, it exacerbated arrhythmogenesis in both infarcted and normal hearts of rats whereas elimination of miR-1 by its antisense inhibitor relieved it. MiR-1 rendered slowed conduction and depolarized membrane by post-transcriptionally repressing KCNJ2 and GJA1 genes, likely accounting for its arrhythmogenic potential. Thus, miR-1 may have important pathophysiological functions in heart, being a novel antiarrhythmic target useful in the treatment and prevention of various cardiac pathologies.

Methods for the diagnosis and evaluation of stroke and stroke sub-type employ a variety of bio-markers including cellular fibronectin (c-Fn) assembled as a panel for stoke diagnosis and evaluation. Methods are disclosed for selecting markers and correlating their combined levels with a clinical outcome of interest. In various aspects the methods permit early detection and differentiation of stroke subtypes, determination of the prognosis of a patient presenting stroke symptoms, and identification of a patient at risk for early hematoma growth and / or malignant massive cerebral artery infarction. The disclosed methods provide rapid, sensitive and specific assays to greatly increase the number of patients that can receive beneficial stroke treatment and therapy, and to reduce the human and economic costs associated with incorrect stroke diagnosis.

Brain images are processed and analyzed with the aid of a computer for stroke diagnosis or therapeutic decision making, where multiple stroke-related images are superimposed. The superimposed images include brain images that have infarct and penumbra regions, and patient-specific brain atlas images. The infarct and penumbra regions are determined and delineated on the superimposed images. Each patient-specific brain atlas image may be formed by mapping a pre-existing brain atlas to a co-ordinate system in which the brain images are co-registered. A brain atlas may depict brain structures such as anatomy structures, blood supply territories (BST), or cerebral vasculature. The superimposed images may be used to determine any overlap between a particular brain structure and the infarct and penumbra regions.

One embodiment enables detection of MI / I and emerging infarction in an implantable system. A plurality of devices may be used to gather and interpret data from within the heart, from the heart surface, and / or from the thoracic cavity. The apparatus may further alert the patient and / or communicate the condition to an external device or medical caregiver. Additionally, the implanted apparatus may initiate therapy of MI / I and emerging infarction.

The present inventors investigated the effects of anti-IL-6 receptor antibodies on improving the condition of infarcted areas in myocardial infarction, and on suppressing left ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction. As a result, the administration of anti-IL-6 receptor antibodies significantly suppressed the increase of MPO activity in the infarcted area and suppressed myocardial MCP-1 expression in both the infarcted area and the non-infarcted area. Furthermore, echocardiography and histological examinations revealed that cardiac hypertrophy is also suppressed.

Apparatus and methods are provided for treating an infarcted region of myocardium following acute myocardial infarction by reducing the rate of blood flow through infarcted region, and then injecting a solution containing stem cells, endothelial progenitor cells or mediators of stem cell mobilization, migration and attachment into the effected region so that the stem cells become embedded therein and promote tissue regeneration. In a first embodiment, delivery of the stem cells, endothelial progenitor cells or mediators of stem cell mobilization, migration and attachment is accomplished using a catheter that relies upon antegrade flow through the coronary artery and a flow control catheter placed in the coronary sinus. In an alternative embodiment, the delivery catheter delivers the stem cells in a retrograde manner through the coronary sinus, and the delivery catheter further comprises an occlusion balloon for controlling outflow through the coronary sinus ostium.

Systems and methods to obtain a myocardial mass index indicative of an at-risk myocardial region. In at least one embodiment, a method for diagnosing a risk of cardiac disease is provided, the method comprising the steps of identifying a luminal cross-sectional area of a side branch vessel, identifying a luminal cross-sectional area of a main artery most proximal to the side branch vessel, determining a myocardial region at risk for infarct from side branch occlusion relative to a mass perfused by the most proximal artery, wherein such region is based on a relationship between the cross-sectional areas of the side branch and the most proximal main artery, and diagnosing a risk of cardiac disease based on a diameter of the side branch and the size of the myocardial region at risk for infarct perfused by the side branch.

A method predicting stroke evolution uses magnetic resonance diffusion and perfusion images obtained shortly after the onset of stroke symptoms to automatically estimate the eventual volume of dead cerebral tissue resulting from the stroke. The diffusion and perfusion images are processed to extract region(s) of interest presenting tissue at risk of infarction. A midplane algorithm is also used to calculate ratio and diffusion and perfusion measures for modelling infarct evolution. A parametric normal classifier algorithm is used to predict infarct growth using the calculated measures.

Devices, systems, and methods for accessing tissue, including the internal and external tissues of the heart, are disclosed. At feast some of the embodiments disclosed herein provide access to the tissues surrounding the heart to facilitate myocardial infarct healing and border zone reinforcement. In at least one embodiment, a suction / infusion catheter is used to provide localized suction to an area of myocardial infarct. In another embodiment, a suction infusion catheter is used to deliver a glue-like substance and magnetic cells to a myocardial infarct border zone.

A method and apparatus for evaluating acute stroke patients and for determining whether a stroke patient will benefit from the use of thrombolysis therapy includes obtaining measurements of the cerebral blood flow and cerebral blood volume of the brain of a stroke patient, determining ischemic areas of the brain where the ischemic areas comprise the measurements of cerebral blood flow which are less than a first value and creating a penumbra-infarct map of the ischemic areas of the brain using the measurements. The infarct area corresponds to the area of the brain where cerebral blood volume is less than a second value. The penumbra area corresponds to the area of the brain where cerebral blood volume is greater than this second value. The method also includes determining a ratio of penumbra size to the total of penumbra size and infarct size. When the ratio is greater than a predetermined value, the stroke patient is a candidate for thrombolysis therapy.

The present invention relates to a device consisting of cross-linked nanofibrillary fibrin supported on and rooted to a microporous nonwoven fabric consisting of a biocompatible synthetic polymer material. An active ingredient is advantageously dispersed in the fibrin layer. The fibrin layer does not have a haemostatic function, but is suitable for retaining the active ingredient and releasing it with controlled kinetics. The device forming the object of the invention, preferably in the form of patches, is useful for in vitro cell cultures or for treating tissues damaged by wounds or necrosis, such as cardiac walls bearing the sequelae of infarction, or a tissue damaged by a diabetic ulcer. The patch according to the invention can be manufactured by inducing the polymerisation of the fibrin, under suitable conditions, directly on the support layer, which is suitably impregnated with thrombin (at least in a superficial portion of its thickness), and which has been conveniently prepared by means of a spray phase-inversion technique.

Methods for the diagnosis and evaluation of stroke and stroke sub-type employ a variety of bio-markers including cellular fibronectin (c-Fn) assembled as a panel for stoke diagnosis and evaluation. Methods are disclosed for selecting markers and correlating their combined levels with a clinical outcome of interest. In various aspects the methods permit early detection and differentiation of stroke subtypes, determination of the prognosis of a patient presenting stroke symptoms, and identification of a patient at risk for early hematoma growth and / or malignant massive cerebral artery infarction. The disclosed methods provide rapid, sensitive and specific assays to greatly increase the number of patients that can receive beneficial stroke treatment and therapy, and to reduce the human and economic costs associated with incorrect stroke diagnosis.

Methods and apparatus for preventing myocardial infarction, or lessening the size / severity of an evolving myocardial infarction, by cooling at least the affected area of the myocardium using an intravascular heat exchange catheter. The heat exchange catheter may be inserted into the vasculature (e.g., a vein) and advanced to a position wherein a heat exchanger on the catheter is located in or near the heart (e.g., within the vena cava near the patient's heart). Thereafter, the heat exchange catheter is used to cool the myocardium (or the entire body of the patient) to a temperature that effectively lessens the metabolic rate and / or oxygen consumption of the ischemic myocardial cells or otherwise protects the ischemic myocardium from undergoing irreversible damage or infarction.

The invention relates to effective components of root of red-rooted salvia to treat disease and its chemical structure and synthesize technique. It is used to treat heart and blood vessel of brain diseases. Filter the main metabolite-beta(-3,4- dihydric phenyl)-alpha hydric propionic acid isopropyl ester in human blood serum after taking medicine. The purity is 98.0%. The results demonstrate the medicine to have varies function in blood vessel dilatation, anti cerebral ischemia, oxidation resisting in vitro, and protect heart and brain and remission the diabetes caused miocardial infarction.

An use of common timosaponin in preparing medicine or food for preventing and treating cerebral apoplexy is disclosed.

The invention relates to a traditional Chinese medicine for treating cardiac, cerebral and vascular diseases; the drug is composed of forty kinds of crude drugs by weight parts: milk veteh, salvia miltiorrhiza, root of common peony, ligusticum wallichii, lumbricus, sanguisuga, rhizoma acori graminei, polygala root, red ocher, oyster, angelica, the root of kudzu vine, arisaema cum bile and the like; the preparation method is that: (1) the crude drugs are prepared into water extract liquid; (2) the water extract liquid is prepared into oral liquid; (3)the water extract liquid obtained by the step (1) is dried, crushed, sieved, undersize material is extracted powder; (4) the extracted powder prepared by the step (3) is prepared into various dosage forms. The preparation method of crude powder is that: lime earth of the crude drugs is sieved, and then the crude drugs are crushed and sieved, the undersize material is taken out and is sterilized to be crude powder, and the crude powder is prepared into various dosage forms. The traditional Chinese medicine has the major functions of treating miocardial infarction and angina caused by coronary heart disease, high blood pressure and cerebral thrombosis, hemiplegia, cerebral infarction, cerebrovascular accident, sequel of apoplexy and other symptoms, and the medicine has obvious effect on headache, dizziness and heart cerebrovascular diseases caused by high blood pressure and cerebral circulation insufficiency.

Brain images are processed and analyzed with the aid of a computer for stroke diagnosis or therapeutic decision making, where multiple stroke-related images are superimposed. The superimposed images include brain images that have infarct and penumbra regions, and patient-specific brain atlas images. The infarct and penumbra regions are determined and delineated on the superimposed images. Each patient-specific brain atlas image may be formed by mapping a pre-existing brain atlas to a co-ordinate system in which the brain images are co-registered. A brain atlas may depict brain structures such as anatomy structures, blood supply territories (BST), or cerebral vasculature. The superimposed images may be used to determine any overlap between a particular brain structure and the infarct and penumbra regions.

The technology herein provides a dark blood delayed enhancement technique that improves the visualization of subendocardial infarcts that may otherwise be disguised by the bright blood pool. The timed combination of a slice-selective and a non-selective preparation improves the infarct / blood contrast by decoupling their relaxation curves thereby nulling both the blood and the non-infarcted myocardium. This causes the infarct to be imaged bright and the blood and non-infarct to both be imaged dark. The slice-selective preparation occurs early enough in the cardiac cycle so that fresh blood can enter the imaged slice.