Methods and systems for treating ischemic cardiac and other tissues

Abstract

Methods and systems for regenerating damaged tissue rely on direct injection of selected therapeutic cells into a tissue at or near the site of tissue damage. Direct injection is accomplished using an intravascular catheter having a deployable needle, and injection is usually targeted into the adventitial and peri-adventitial tissues surrounding the blood vessel from which the needle is deployed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for treating ischemic tissue, said method comprising: 
 injecting therapeutic cells into peri-adventitial tissue through the endothelium of a blood vessel.    
     
     
         2 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the blood vessel is an artery.  
     
     
         3 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the blood vessel is a vein.  
     
     
         4 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein injecting comprises advancing a needle from a lumen of the blood vessel to the location beyond the endothelium and infusing the therapeutic cells through the needle.  
     
     
         5 . A method as in  claim 4 , wherein the needle is advanced into a perivascular space beyond the outside of the endothelium.  
     
     
         6 . A method as in  claim 5 , wherein the needle is advanced into the adventitia surrounding the blood vessel.  
     
     
         7 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the needle is advanced in a radial direction to a depth in the adventitia equal to at least 10% of the mean luminal diameter at the blood vessel location.  
     
     
         8 . A method as in  claim 7 , wherein the depth is a distance in the range from 10% to 50% of the mean luminal diameter.  
     
     
         9 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the tissue is cardiac which has been damaged by a myocardial infarction, neurological tissue damaged by stroke, or other tissue damaged by inadequate blood circulation.  
     
     
         10 . A method as in  claim 9 , wherein the therapeutic cells are selected from the group consisting of stem cells, cardiomyocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, skeletal myoblasts, mesenchymal stem cells, cells from unprocessed or minimally processed bone marrow, peripheral blood stem cells, and mobilized peripheral blood stem cells.  
     
     
         11 . A method as in  claim 9 , wherein the therapeutic cells are pluripotent stem cells.  
     
     
         12 . A method as in  claim 11 , wherein the pluripotent stem cells are mesenchymal adult progenitor cells.  
     
     
         13 . A method as in  claim 11 , wherein the pluripotent stem cells are embryonic stem cells.  
     
     
         14 . A method for treating damaged tissues, said method comprising: 
 advancing a needle from a lumen of the blood vessel to the location beyond the endothelium of the blood vessel; and    injecting therapeutic cells through the needle into tissue at a location beyond the endothelium of the vessel.    
     
     
         15 . A method as in  claim 14 , wherein the blood vessel is a coronary, cerebral, or peripheral artery.  
     
     
         16 . A method as in  claim 14 , wherein the blood vessel is a coronary, cerebral, or peripheral vein.  
     
     
         17 . A method as in  claim 14 , wherein the needle is advanced into a perivascular space beyond the outside of the endothelium.  
     
     
         18 . A method as in  claim 17 , wherein the needle is advanced into the adventitia surrounding the blood vessel.  
     
     
         19 . A method as in  claim 15 , wherein the needle is advanced in a radial direction to a depth in the adventitia equal to at least 10% of the mean luminal diameter at the blood vessel location.  
     
     
         20 . A method as in  claim 19 , wherein the depth is a distance in the range from 10% to 50% of the mean luminal diameter.  
     
     
         21 . A method as in  claim 15 , wherein the tissue has been damaged by a myocardial infarction or stroke.  
     
     
         22 . A method as in  claim 14 , wherein the therapeutic cells are selected from the group consisting of stem cells, cardiomyocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, skeletal myoblasts, mesenchymal stem cells, cells from unprocessed or minimally processed bone marrow, peripheral blood stem cells, and mobilized peripheral blood stem cells.  
     
     
         23 . A method as in  claim 21 , wherein the therapeutic cells are pluripotent stem cells.  
     
     
         24 . A method as in  claim 21 , wherein the pluripotent stem cells are mesenchymal adult progenitor cells.  
     
     
         25 . A method as in  claim 23 , wherein the pluripotent stem cells are embryonic stem cells.  
     
     
         26 . A system for treating ischemic tissue, said system comprising: 
 an amount of therapeutic cells selected to promote viability of the tissue, and    an intravascular catheter having a needle for injecting the substance into a location beyond the endothelium of a blood vessel.