Therapeutic agent delivery apparatus with direct mechanical ventricular assistance capability
A therapeutic apparatus for delivering at least one therapeutic agent directly and preferentially to a desired tissue to be treated, comprising at least one membrane adapted to deliver the therapeutic agent to the desired tissue, wherein the membrane is in contact with at least a part of the desired tissue to be treated; and at least one shell surrounding the membrane, wherein the shell isolates the membrane from tissues other than the desired tissue to be treated. In one embodiment, the apparatus is a direct mechanical ventricular assistance apparatus comprising a liner in which the membrane is formed.
1 . A therapeutic apparatus for delivering at least one therapeutic agent directly and preferentially to a desired tissue to be treated, said apparatus comprising:
a. at least one membrane comprised of means to deliver said agent to said desired tissue, said membrane being in contact with at least a part of said desired tissue to be treated; and
b. at least one shell surrounding said membrane, said shell isolating said at least one membrane from tissues other than said desired tissue to be treated.
2 . The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein said at least one therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of anti-inflammatory agents, gene therapy agents, gene transfer agents, stem cells, chemo-attractants, cell regeneration agents, ventricular remodeling agents, anti-infection agents, tumor suppressants, tissue and/or cell engineering agents, imaging contrast agents, tissue staining agents, nutrients, and mixtures thereof.
3 . The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein said at least one membrane is formed as a liner.
4 . The apparatus as recited in claim 3 , wherein said at least one therapeutic agent is impregnated in said at least one membrane.
5 . The apparatus as recited in claim 3 , wherein said liner further comprises an impermeable film separated from said membrane by a gap, and wherein said therapeutic agent is contained in said gap.
6 . The apparatus as recited in claim 3 , wherein said liner is detachable from said apparatus.
7 . The apparatus as recited in claim 6 , wherein said at least one therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of anti-inflammatory agents, gene therapy agents, gene transfer agents, stem cells, chemo-attractants, cell regeneration agents, ventricular remodeling agents, anti-infection agents, tumor suppressants, tissue and/or cell engineering agents, imaging contrast agents, tissue staining agents, nutrients, and mixtures thereof.
8 . The apparatus as recited in claim 3 , wherein said therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of anti-inflammatory agents, gene therapy agents, gene transfer agents, stem cells, chemo-attractants, cell regeneration agents, ventricular remodeling agents, anti-infection agents, tumor suppressants, tissue and/or cell engineering agents, imaging contrast agents, tissue staining agents, nutrients, and mixtures thereof.
9 . The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein said apparatus is a direct mechanical ventricular assistance apparatus.
10 . The apparatus as recited in claim 9 , wherein said direct mechanical ventricular assistance apparatus comprises a liner, and wherein said at least one membrane is formed in said liner.
11 . The apparatus as recited in claim 10 , wherein said therapeutic agent is impregnated in said liner.
12 . The apparatus as recited in claim 10 , wherein said liner further comprises an impermeable film separated from said at least one membrane by a gap, and wherein said therapeutic agent is contained in said gap.
13 . The apparatus as recited in claim 10 , wherein said liner is detachable from said apparatus.
14 . The apparatus as recited in claim 10 , wherein said therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of anti-inflammatory agents, gene therapy agents, gene transfer agents, stem cells, chemo-attractants, cell regeneration agents, ventricular remodeling agents, anti-infection agents, tumor suppressants, tissue and/or cell engineering agents, imaging contrast agents, tissue staining agents, nutrients, and mixtures thereof.
15 . The apparatus as recited in claim 9 , wherein said direct mechanical ventricular assistance apparatus comprises a seal, and wherein said at least one membrane is formed in said seal.
16 . The apparatus as recited in claim 15 , wherein said therapeutic agent is impregnated in said seal.
17 . The apparatus as recited in claim 15 , wherein said seal further comprises a cavity, and wherein said therapeutic agent is contained in said cavity.
18 . The apparatus as recited in claim 15 , wherein said seal is detachable from said apparatus.
19 . The apparatus as recited in claim 18 , wherein said therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of anti-inflammatory agents, gene therapy agents, gene transfer agents, stem cells, chemo-attractants, cell regeneration agents, ventricular remodeling agents, anti-infection agents, tumor suppressants, tissue and/or cell engineering agents, imaging contrast agents, tissue staining agents, nutrients, and mixtures thereof.
20 . The apparatus as recited in claim 15 , wherein said therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of anti-inflammatory agents, gene therapy agents, gene transfer agents, stem cells, chemo-attractants, cell regeneration agents, ventricular remodeling agents, anti-infection agents, tumor suppressants, tissue and/or cell engineering agents, imaging contrast agents, tissue staining agents, nutrients, and mixtures thereof.
21 . The apparatus as recited in claim 9 , wherein said direct mechanical ventricular assistance apparatus comprises at least one sensor measuring at least one parameter.
22 . The apparatus as recited in claim 21 , wherein said direct mechanical ventricular assistance apparatus comprises a liner, and wherein said at least one membrane is formed in said liner.
23 . The apparatus as recited in claim 21 , wherein said direct mechanical ventricular assistance apparatus further comprises a seal, and wherein said at least one membrane is formed in said seal.
24 . The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a second membrane comprised of means to deliver said agent to said desired tissue, said second membrane being in contact with at least a part of said desired tissue to be treated.
25 . The apparatus as recited in claim 24 , wherein the first of said membranes is formed as a liner, and the second of said membranes is formed as a seal.
26 . The apparatus as recited in claim 25 , wherein said therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of anti-inflammatory agents, gene therapy agents, gene transfer agents, stem cells, chemo-attractants, cell regeneration agents, ventricular remodeling agents, anti-infection agents, tumor suppressants, tissue and/or cell engineering agents, imaging contrast agents, tissue staining agents, nutrients, and mixtures thereof.