Cytopheretic Cartridge Sequesters Activated Leukocytes
Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for inflammatory myocardial conditions, such as chronic heart failure and acute decompensated heart failure, are inadequate, as existing therapies often lead to further declines in renal function and fail to effectively manage inflammatory cell activity.
Innovation Solution
The development of cytopheretic cartridges and methods that extracorporeally sequester and deactivate activated leukocytes and platelets, using a rigid housing with a solid support to inhibit the release of pro-inflammatory substances, thereby improving myocardial function.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional therapies are used to treat inflammatory myocardial conditions, then myocardial function may be temporarily improved, but renal function deteriorates and inflammatory cell activity is not effectively managed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes activated inflammatory cells (leukocytes and platelets) from the bloodstream using a cytopheretic cartridge with a solid support. The solid support selectively binds and sequesters these activated cells, removing them from circulation to prevent their harmful effects on both myocardium and kidneys, thereby improving myocardial function without causing renal deterioration.
2Reliability
If activated leukocytes and platelets are present in the bloodstream, then immune response is maintained, but inflammatory damage to myocardium increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by selectively targeting and removing only activated inflammatory cells (leukocytes and platelets) while leaving normal, non-activated immune cells intact in the bloodstream. The solid support in the cartridge has specific properties that bind only to activated cells, allowing differential treatment based on cellular activation state, thus maintaining necessary immune response while eliminating myocardial inflammation.
3Reliability
If a solid support with large surface area is used to sequester activated cells, then inflammatory activity is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs porous solid support materials within the cartridge that provide an extremely large internal surface area for cell sequestration. The porous structure allows blood to flow through while activated cells become trapped and bound within the pore network. This approach achieves effective inflammatory cell removal without requiring a physically large or complex device structure, as the porous material packs high surface area into a compact form.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach effectively increases myocardial function by reducing inflammatory activity, improving parameters like left ventricular ejection fraction, cardiac output, and systemic vascular resistance, and maintaining these improvements for several hours post-treatment.
Implementation Method 1
a solid support disposed within the housing and defining a fluid contacting surface with a surface area (SA) capable of sequestering activated leukocytes and/or activated platelets
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a cytopheretic cartridge for use in treating and/or preventing inflammatory conditions that affect myocardial function and to related methods. The cartridge can be used in treating a subject with myocardial dysfunction, such as a subject with chronic heart failure and/or acute decompensated heart failure.