Implantable systems and stents containing cells for therapeutic uses

Abstract

An implantable system includes cells that produce and release a therapeutic agent, or agents, to a host in need. The system can include cells capable of eluting therapeutic agents in response to changing physiological conditions within a host. The system may comprise naked cells, encapsulated cells, or a mixture of non-encapsulating and encapsulated cells. The system may also comprise cells, and/or cell groups, of different origins. The implantable device may be placed intra-vascular, within bone marrow, within soft tissue, in the peritoneal cavity, or intra-hepatic, etc. The system can be comprised of a stent, or like devices. Such stents and like devices may optionally include port(s), catheter(s), and containment envelope systems for holding the above cells.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A medical device for implantation in a living host, said device containing cell components for delivering therapeutic agents to the host comprising a carrier supporting a plurality of biologically active cell components protected from the host immune system, said cell components adapted to deliver therapeutic agents in response to a stimulus in the physiology of the host. 
     
     
         2 . A medical device of  claim 1  wherein said carrier comprises a tubular stent for implantation in a lumen of the host, said stent having a lumen-wall contacting surface for securing said stent in said lumen and a lumen-exposed surface permitting flow through the lumen, said cell components located on said stent. 
     
     
         3 . A medical device of  claim 2  wherein said tubular stent has a mesh structure, said mesh structure having a collapsed state and an expanded state. 
     
     
         4 . A medical device of  claim 2  wherein said tubular stent includes barbs extending from said lumen-wall contacting surface for engaging said lumen wall. 
     
     
         5 . A medical device of  claim 3  wherein said tubular stent is composed of a pervious polymer. 
     
     
         6 . A medical device of  claim 3  wherein said tubular stent is composed of a porous alginate. 
     
     
         7 . A medical device of  claim 2  wherein a porous containment envelop is attached within said tubular stent, said porous containment envelop composed of an immuno-barrier and said cell components are disposed within said containment envelop. 
     
     
         8 . A medical device for implantation in a living host, said device containing cell components for delivering therapeutic agents to the host comprising an elongated catheter having a tip for insertion into a living host, side holes in said tip for communicating with said host, a porous sac attached to said tip enclosing said side holes and forming a containment envelop between said sac and said tip, biologically active cells disposed in said containment envelop, said biologically active cells adapted to elute therapeutic agents through said sac in response to a stimulus. 
     
     
         9 . A medical device of  claim 8  wherein said catheter is composed of two lumen, one of said lumen providing nutrient to said containment envelop and the other lumen for removing waste from said containment envelop. 
     
     
         10 . A medical device of  claim 8  wherein said catheter is connected to a port providing a transcutaneous passageway, said port having a base for attachment to the host, said port having an inlet covered with a diaphragm, said inlet connected to an outlet, said catheter connected to said outlet.