Therapeutic agent delivery apparatus with direct mechanical ventricular assistance capability

Abstract

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.