Light-Sensitive Ion Channels for Targeted Cardiac Pacing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for treating cardiac diseases associated with reduced, suppressed, or unsynchronized cardiac activity are limited by invasiveness and side effects, and they often require global treatment of the heart rather than targeted intervention at specific sites.
Innovation Solution
A pharmaceutical composition comprising a gene encoding a light-sensitive channel, such as Channelrhodopsin-2, is introduced into specific sites within the heart via gene or cell therapy, allowing for controlled cardiac activity induction through light exposure, enabling targeted treatment of aberrant heart contractions and synchronization of heart rate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electronic cardiac pacemakers with wires and electrodes are used to treat suppressed or unsynchronized cardiac activity, then cardiac activity can be induced and controlled, but the treatment becomes invasive and requires implantation of multiple wires and electrodes in the myocardium
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical pacemaker system (wires and electrodes) with a photo-sensitive biological system. Light-sensitive channels (rhodopsins) are introduced into cardiac cells, and optical illumination replaces electrical stimulation to induce cardiac activity. This substitution eliminates the need for invasive wire and electrode implantation while maintaining controlled cardiac pacing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the stimulation parameter from electrical (voltage/current) to optical (light wavelength and intensity). By using light-sensitive channels that respond to specific wavelengths (e.g., blue light for Channelrhodopsin-2), the system achieves cardiac control through optical parameters rather than electrical parameters, reducing invasiveness while maintaining efficacy.
2Reliability
If global treatment of the entire heart is applied to treat cardiac conditions, then comprehensive coverage is achieved, but the treatment loses specificity and increases side effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables localized treatment by introducing light-sensitive channels specifically into cardiac regions requiring therapy and using targeted optical illumination. This allows precise spatial control, treating only the affected areas (e.g., specific ventricular or atrial regions) while leaving the rest of the heart unaffected, thereby reducing systemic side effects and increasing treatment specificity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the heart into treatable segments or regions, each potentially receiving targeted gene therapy and localized optical stimulation. This segmentation allows independent control of different cardiac regions, enabling customized treatment protocols for specific pathological areas without affecting the entire heart.
3Reliability
If invasive surgical intervention is used to implant pacemaker electrodes, then direct cardiac stimulation is achieved, but patient trauma and recovery time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces invasive mechanical implantation of electrodes with non-invasive or minimally invasive optical delivery methods. Light can be delivered through the chest wall or via catheter-based optical fibers, eliminating the need for surgical electrode implantation. This maintains direct cardiac stimulation capability while dramatically reducing surgical complexity and patient trauma.
4Reliability
If systemic drug administration is used to treat cardiac arrhythmias, then broad coverage is achieved, but treatment specificity decreases and side effects increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves localized cardiac treatment through regional introduction of light-sensitive channels combined with targeted optical illumination. This spatially restricted approach modulates cardiac activity only in the illuminated regions, avoiding systemic drug distribution and its associated side effects. The treatment becomes as specific as the light delivery can be focused.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces light-sensitive channels as an intermediary between optical energy and cardiac electrical activity. Instead of using systemic drugs that affect all cardiac tissue, the intermediary channels convert localized light energy into localized electrical stimulation, providing precise spatial control and eliminating the need for systemic pharmacological intervention.
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 allows for precise, minimally invasive treatment of cardiac arrhythmias and other heart conditions by inducing controlled heart electrical activity, synchronizing heart contractions, and reversing blocked conduction without the need for extensive surgical intervention or systemic drug administration, thereby improving treatment efficacy and reducing side effects.
Implementation Method 1
Bacterial light sensitive rhodopsins, also known as bacteriorhodopsins, correspond to light-sensitive proton-pump, isolated from halobacterium, known in the art since the 1970's. Channelrhodopsin, a non-selective light-sensitive cation channel
Implementation Method 2
exposure of said composition to light induces a controlled heart electrical activity selected from inducing cardiomyocytes depolarization, inducing controlled pacing, inducing controlled cardiac activation, inducing synchronized pacing
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to methods, kits and pharmaceutical compositions for inducing a controlled cardiac activity, thereby treating cardiac disease and disorders associated with reduced or suppressed cardiac activity.