Delivery of biological compounds to ischemic and/or infarcted tissue

Abstract

The delivery of biological compounds to ischemic and/or infarcted tissue are described herein where such a system may include a deployment catheter and an attached imaging hood deployable into an expanded configuration. In use, the imaging hood is placed against or adjacent to a region of tissue to be imaged in a body lumen that is normally filled with an opaque bodily fluid such as blood. A translucent or transparent fluid, such as saline, can be pumped into the imaging hood until the fluid displaces any blood, thereby leaving a clear region of tissue to be imaged via an imaging element in the deployment catheter. Additionally, any number of therapeutic tools can also be passed through the deployment catheter and into the imaging hood for performing any number of procedures on the tissue for identifying, locating, and/or accessing ischemic and/or infarcted tissue.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A system comprising:
 a steerable deployment catheter;   a delivery catheter extendable within the deployment catheter, the delivery catheter articulatable independently of the steerable deployment catheter;   a visualization element in the deployment catheter, the visualization element configured to capture an image of a tissue region; and   a laser component in the deployment catheter, the laser component configured to deliver laser energy to the tissue region.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the delivery catheter includes a fluid transport lumen. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the fluid transport lumen is configured to evacuate material from the tissue region under a suction force. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the fluid transport lumen is configured to deliver a fluid flow to the tissue region. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the steerable deployment catheter comprises a pullwire. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the pullwire is articulatable by computer control. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the delivery catheter comprises a pullwire. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the pullwire is articulatable by computer control. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the visualization element comprises at least one optical fiber, CCD imager, or CMOS imager. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the visualization element is advanceable through the deployment catheter. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the laser component includes a laser probe configured to extend within the deployment catheter. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the laser probe includes an optical fiber for channeling the laser energy. 
     
     
         14 . A method comprising:
 steering a deployment catheter to locate a distal end of the deployment catheter at a position within a patient anatomy;   articulating a delivery catheter extending through and from the distal end of the deployment catheter while the distal end of the deployment catheter remains at the position;   imaging a tissue region in the patient anatomy with an imaging element in the delivery catheter; and   delivering laser energy to the tissue region from a laser in the deployment catheter.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising: evacuating material from the tissue region under a suction force. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising: delivering a fluid flow to the tissue region. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the steering is controlled by a computer. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the articulating is controlled by a computer. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising;
 conducting a first procedure with the laser while the distal end of the delivery catheter is articulated in a first direction and the distal end of the deployment catheter is at the position within the patient anatomy; and 
 conducting a second procedure with the laser while the distal end of the delivery catheter is articulated in a second direction and the distal end of the deployment catheter is at the position within the patient anatomy. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 capturing a first image with the imaging element while the distal end of the delivery catheter is articulated in a first direction and the distal end of the deployment catheter is at the position within the patient anatomy; and 
 capturing a second image with the imaging element while the distal end of the delivery catheter is articulated in a second direction and the distal end of the deployment catheter is at the position within the patient anatomy. 
 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14  wherein delivering laser energy includes delivering laser energy through an optical fiber.