Engineered Heart Tissue Pouch Prevents Cardiac Dilation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for preventing cardiac dilation and heart failure, such as drugs and passive ventricular restraint devices, are inadequate in providing long-term solutions, and engineered heart tissue constructs face limitations in size due to nutrient and oxygen diffusion constraints, making it challenging to create effective biocompatible cardiac support devices.
Innovation Solution
A pouch-like construct made of engineered mammalian tissue, specifically engineered heart tissue, is developed with contractile properties, designed to encase and compress the heart, providing both structural and functional support by using a reconstitution mixture of cardiac myocytes, collagen, and culture medium, which can be tailored for specific heart sizes and shapes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If passive ventricular restraint devices are used to prevent cardiac dilation, then cardiac distension is restrained, but pericardial constriction occurs requiring reoperation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible biocompatible membrane or thin film material to create a pouch-like construct that can conform to the heart's surface. This flexible structure provides restraint against dilation while accommodating cardiac motion and growth, avoiding the rigid constriction problems of previous devices. The thin film nature allows for gradual expansion and integration with surrounding tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
The pouch-like construct is designed as a segmented or modular structure that can be sutured to the heart in sections. This segmentation allows for distributed attachment points that reduce localized stress and prevent pericardial constriction while maintaining overall restraint function. The modular design also facilitates surgical implantation and potential adjustments.
2Reliability
If engineered heart tissue constructs are used to prevent cardiac dilation, then contractile support is provided, but construct size is limited by nutrient and oxygen diffusion constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds engineered heart tissue constructs within a larger pouch-like membrane structure. This nested arrangement allows multiple tissue constructs to be positioned within the pouch, collectively providing sufficient contractile support for larger heart volumes while each individual construct remains within the diffusion-limited size range. The pouch membrane provides the outer containment and structural framework.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from attempting to create a single large three-dimensional tissue construct to using a two-dimensional pouch membrane with embedded tissue layers. This dimensional shift allows the system to achieve large overall volume coverage while maintaining thin tissue layers that remain within nutrient and oxygen diffusion constraints, effectively solving the size limitation problem.
3Ease of operation
If drugs are used to treat cardiac dilation and heart failure, then symptom management is achieved, but complete healing is not obtained
Solution Approach 1:
The pouch-like construct is designed to integrate with and stimulate the host's own tissue regeneration processes. The biocompatible membrane and embedded engineered tissue serve as scaffolds that recruit and guide the patient's native cells to regenerate functional myocardium, rather than simply providing mechanical restraint. This self-service approach enables complete healing through the body's own reparative mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The engineered heart tissue within the pouch acts as an intermediary that bridges the gap between pharmacological symptom management and complete structural healing. The tissue provides both mechanical support and biological signals that stimulate regeneration, serving as a mediator that transitions the heart from a drug-managed state to a healed, self-sustaining state.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is directed to a pouch-like construct comprising mammalian tissue which can be used for preventing distension and/or resisting dilation of the heart in a mammal. Preferably, the pouch-like tissue construct has contractile properties. The invention further relates to a method for the preparation of a pouch-like construct comprising mammalian tissue which can be used for the above purposes.