Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080260705 | Preventing Arrhythmias Associated with Cell Transplantation - Skeletal myoblasts are an attractive cell type for transplantation since they are autologous and resistant to ischemia. However, clinical trials of myoblasts transplantation in heart failure have been plagued by ventricular tachy-arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. The pathogenesis of these arrhythmias is poorly understood, but may be related to the fact that skeletal muscle cells, unlike heart cells, are electrically isolated by the absence of gap junctions. An in vitro model of myoblasts transplantation into cardiomyocyte monolayers can be used to investigate the mechanisms of transplant-associated arrhythmias. Co-cultures of human skeletal myoblasts and rat cardiomyocytes result in reentrant arrhythmias (spiral waves) that reproduce the features of ventricular tachycardia seen in patients receiving myoblasts transplants. These arrhythmias can be terminated by nitrendipine, an L-type calcium channel Mocker, but not by the Na channel blocker lidocaine. Genetic modification of myoblasts to stably express the gap junction protein connexin 43 decreases arrhythmogenicity in co-cultures. It similarly can be used to increase the safety of myoblasts transplantation in patients. | 10-23-2008 |
20080267921 | Cardiac Stem Cells - Human cardiac stem cells can be isolated from endomyocardial biopsies. Such cells mediate cardiac regeneration and improve heart function in a mouse infarct model. The cells can be used for autologous, allogeneic, syngeneic, or xenogeneic therapeutic applications in patients. The stem cells can be genetically modified to enhance their therapeutic activity. | 10-30-2008 |
20100061966 | Cardiac Stem Cells - Human cardiac stem cells can be isolated from endomyocardial biopsies. Such cells mediate cardiac regeneration and improve heart function in a mouse infarct model. The cells can be used for autologous, allogeneic, syngeneic, or xenogeneic therapeutic applications in patients. The stem cells can be genetically modified to enhance their therapeutic activity. | 03-11-2010 |
20100068811 | Cardiac Stem Cells - Human cardiac stem cells can be isolated from endomyocardial biopsies. Such cells mediate cardiac regeneration and improve heart function in a mouse infarct model. The cells can be used for autologous, allogeneic, syngeneic, or xenogeneic therapeutic applications in patients. The stem cells can be genetically modified to enhance their therapeutic activity. | 03-18-2010 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090036780 | Wired and Wireless Remotely Controlled Ultrasonic Transducer and Imaging Apparatus - A remotely manipulatable transducer element or linear transducer array for use with a remote work station including a display permits an operator of an ultrasound system to be remotely located from a patient. The transducer or linear transducer array comprises an assembly within a housing for fixation to a human body and intended to be placed one time and then remotely manipulated in directions of rotation, twist, and linearly in first and second perpendicular directions within a plane parallel to the surface of the human body under study. In one embodiment, the housing comprises a motor and a linear transducer array which are mounted to a rotor of the motor via an optional gear assembly for rotation, for example, in a range of 180 degrees so that multiple planes of imaging can be obtained, for example, of a heart or other body organ. The remotely manipulatable transducer or transducer array assembly may comprise a wireless transceiver having a unique identifier for communication with one or more work stations, each having a unique identifier. | 02-05-2009 |
20090105597 | Image guided catheter having remotely controlled surfaces-mounted and internal ultrasound transducers - A remotely manipulatable ultrasound transducer element or transducer array permits an operator of an ultrasound system to be remotely located from a patient and yet remotely control the location of the element or array on a patient's body such as on the skin surface or within a body cavity. The transducer element or transducer array associated with motors and control circuits comprises an assembly within a housing for fixation to or within a human body. The transducer assembly may be fixed to a ring surrounding an image guided catheter and may rotate about the image guided catheter or move along its length to an anchoring position proximate the surface skin. Two embodiment systems for pericardial access may comprise surface and internal vision or ultrasound guidance systems that are wireless or wired one operating on suction and another on mechanical grasping of the pericardial lining. | 04-23-2009 |
20100174189 | REMOTELY CONTROLLED IMPLANTABLE TRANSDUCER AND ASSOCIATED DISPLAYS AND CONTROLS - An implantable, remotely controlled medical device that incorporates an imaging/therapy ultrasound system may be minimally invasive and equipped with an anchoring portion for securing the device within a human body. Transducers for imaging/therapy may be manipulated remotely using motors and/or selectively actuated to obtain different fields of view and stereoscopic imaging. The implantable medical device can be in the shape of a disc, double disc, sphere or pellet, for example, and may be implanted during open surgery using a manipulatable tool or using a minimally invasive image-guided sheath or catheter. The imaging system comprises one or more ultrasound transducers and can be used to provide therapy to or obtain ultrasound images of a target and surrounding volumes or focal points. The device may be controlled and report data by wired or wireless means and, if wireless, permanently worn inside the body as the patient follows their normal daily routine. | 07-08-2010 |
20130218019 | Image Guided Catheters and Methods of Use - An interventional medical device is provided that incorporates a forward-directed ultrasound imaging system integrated into a single minimally invasive device. The medical device can be in the form of catheters and interventional devices having a tapered distal tip, particularly those suitable for minimally invasive direct introduction into the human or other mammalian body. The imaging system comprises one or more small ultrasound transducers that can be permanently integrated into the device or integrated into an interchangeable ultrasound transducer that may be inserted into and removed from the device to customize the device for a particular use. An ultrasound system can be provided in the device either alone or in combination with fiber optic imaging to provide a range of forward imaging and therapeutic capabilities of the device for direct access to a target site from the skin via an introducer needle. | 08-22-2013 |
20140039277 | REMOTE ULTRASOUND ASSESSMENT AND INTERVENTION SYSTEM - A remote ultrasound assessment and intervention system comprises a console having a controller for an ultrasound imaging device attachable to a human skin surface or implantable in a human body cavity. Commands from a remote work station located, for example, at a hospital may remotely control a transducer of the device to move in x, y, z, rotate and tilt directions to remotely assess an injury to a victim, for example, of a war zone injury or terrorist attack. A first responder, who need not be medically trained, may be instructed via a communications link or via a predetermined controller program stored in computer memory to move the imaging device from one location to another on the human skin surface or in a human body cavity. Intervention is also remotely controlled, once an injury is assessed and diagnosed from the hospital work station via an image guided catheter manipulated by the first responder via commands received from the hospital work station. | 02-06-2014 |