Ventricular assist device capable of implantation of stem cells

Abstract

A biologic ventricular assist device that also has the capability to capture, grow, and administer stem cells to regenerate and restore damaged myocardium in the heart. The device works in conjunction with a traditional ventricular assist device and possesses an additional external path or tube that is in-line with the path of the ventricular assist device. The external path allows for the administration of stem cells, genes, genetically modified cells or other therapeutic biologic or pharmacologic agents, as well as leading to a stem cell collecting accessory that captures circulating stem cells. The stem cell collecting accessory is also associated with a chamber for culturing the captured stem cells. The cultured stem cells can be delivered back to the heart by an electro-mechanical or ultrasound/echocardiographic delivery system that runs through the external path back into the ventricular assist device and allows for the delivery of the stem cells, or other therapeutic biologic or pharmacologic agents, directly into the internal chambers of the heart. Administering the stem cells, genes, genetically modified cells or other therapeutic biologic or pharmacologic agents, either alone or in combination, to the heart allows the myocardium to regenerate and repair itself even while the heart is attached to the ventricular assist device, ultimately allowing the heart to regenerate, recover and allow the VAD to be removed.

1 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . A method for delivering cardiac s e cells or cardiac progenitor cells to a heart, comprising:
 a) isolating cardiac stem cells or cardiac progenitor cells during surgery to give isolated cardiac stem cells or progenitor cells;   b) culturing the isolated cardiac stem cells or cardiac progenitor cells to give cultured cardiac stem cells or cardiac progenitor cells; and   c) reintroducing the cultured cardiac stem cells or progenitor cells to the heart.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 . wherein the cardiac stem cells or cardiac progenitor cells are isolated at the time a ventricular assist device (VAD) is placed. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the cardiac stem cells or cardiac progenitor cells are isolated using streptavidin-coated magnetic beads. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the cardiac stem cells or cardiac progenitor cells are isolated from a sample excised from the left ventricular apex. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the cardiac stem cells or progenitor cells are grown to confluence inside the body. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 . wherein the cardiac stem cells or cardiac progenitor cells are grown to confluence outside the body. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the cardiac stem cells or cardiac progenitor cells are characterized via flow cytometery for phenotypic surface markers to ensure efficient isolation. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 6 . wherein the cardiac stem cells or cardiac progenitor cells are reintroduced to the heart using an electro-mechanical delivery system, an ultrasound/echocardiographic imaging delivery system. or a combination of both. 
     
     
         14 . A method of repairing or restoring a damaged heart in a subject comprising:
 a) capturing circulating stem cells in the subject to give captured stem cells;   b) growing captured stem cells to a desired mass using a bio-reactor within an in-line chamber of a biologic ventricular assist device to give grown captured stem cells;   c) returning the grown captured stem cells to the damaged heart.   
     
     
         15 . A method of repairing or restoring a damaged heart in a subject comprising:
 a) capturing circulating stem cells in the subject to give captured stem cells;   b) growing captured stem cells to a desired mass outside of the subject to give grown captured stem cells;   c) returning the grown captured stem cells to the damaged heart.