Devices for renal-based heart failure treatment
Methods and devices are provided to preferentially deliver biologically active substances to a patient's renal artery, particularly for the treatment of congestive heart failure. The apparatus will comprise an implantable depot which may be in the form of a biodegradable vascular implant, a replenishable reservoir, a drug pump, or combinations thereof. The reservoirs will preferentially be refillable using needles or other transcutaneous techniques.
1 . An implantable depot for releasing a biologically active substance locally into the renal arteries.
2 . An implantable depot as in claim 1 , further comprising a biodegradable vascular implant which releases the biologically active substance, wherein the implant is implantable within the aorta near the renal arteries or within at least one renal artery.
3 . An implantable depot as in claim 1 , further comprising a reservoir for holding the biologically active substance.
4 . An implantable depot as in claim 3 , further comprising a pump connected to the reservoir for delivering the biologically active substance from the reservoir to the renal arteries.
5 . An implantable depot as in claim 3 , further comprising a port which is transcutaneously accessible to replenish the reservoir with biologically active substance.
6 . An implantable depot as in any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the biologically active substance is selected from the group consisting of vasodilators, antioxidants, and diuretics.
7 . An implantable depot as in claim 6 , wherein the biologically active substance comprises a vasodilator selected from the group consisting of papavarine, fenoldopam mesylate, calcium-channel blockers, acetylcholine, nifedipine, nitroglycerine, nitroprusside, adenosine, dopamine, and theophylline.
8 . An implantable depot as in claim 6 , wherein the biologically active substance comprises an antioxidant selected from the group consisting of acetylcystein.
9 . An implantable depot as in claim 6 , wherein the biologically active substance comprises a diuretic selected from the group consisting of mannitol and furosemide.
10 . An implantable depot as in claim 6 , wherein the biologically active substance comprises a natriuretic selected from the group consisting of atrial natiuretic peptide (ANP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and C-type natgriuretic peptide.
11 . A method for delivering biologically active substance to a patient's renal arteries, said method comprising:
implanting a depot which, when implanted, can release the substance preferentially into at least one renal artery.
12 . A method as in claim 11 , wherein the implant is a biodegradable implant which is implanted in the vasculature proximate the target renal artery(ies).
13 . A method as in claim 12 , wherein the implant is implanted in the aorta above the renal arteries.
14 . A method as in claim 12 , wherein the implant is implanted in at least one renal artery.
15 . A method as in claim 11 , wherein the implant comprises a refillable reservoir.
16 . A method as in claim 15 , further comprising periodically refilling the reservoir via a transcutaneous access route.
17 . A method as in claim 15 , further comprising pumping the biologically active substance from the reservoir to at least one renal artery.
18 . A method as in any one of claims 11 to 17 , wherein the biologically active substance is selected from the group consisting of vasodilators, antioxidants, and diuretics.
19 . A method as in claim 18 , wherein the biologically active substance comprises a vasodilator selected from the group consisting of papavarine, fenoldopam mesylate, calcium-channel blockers, acetylcholine, nifedipine, nitroglycerine, nitroprusside, adenosine dopamine, and theophylline.
20 . A method as in claim 19 , wherein the biologically active substance comprises an antioxidant selected from the group consisting of acetylcystein.
21 . A method as in claim 19 , wherein the biologically active substance comprises a diuretic selected from the group consisting of mannitol and furosemide.
22 . A method as in claim 19 , wherein the biologically active substance comprises a natriuretic selected from the group consisting of atrial natiuretic peptide (ANP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), C-type natriuretic peptide.