Apparatus and Method for Cardiac Tissue Modulation by Topical Application of Vacuum to Minimize Cell Death and Damage

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for treating cardiac tissue to modulate ischemic heart tissue with topical sub-atmospheric pressure to minimize cell death and damage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for treating damaged cardiac tissue, comprising:
 a porous bio-incorporable material for treating damaged cardiac tissue having a pore structure configured to permit gaseous communication between one or more pores of the porous material and the cardiac tissue to be treated, the porous material comprising pores sufficiently small at a surface of the porous material for placement proximate the damaged cardiac tissue to prevent the ingrowth of tissue therein and having a selected surface disposed away from the cardiac tissue to be treated having a pore size sufficiently large to promote the formation of granulation tissue thereat;   a bio-incorporable cover for placement over the damaged cardiac tissue for sealing engagement with cardiac tissue proximate the damaged cardiac tissue for maintaining sub-atmospheric pressure at the damaged cardiac tissue; and   a vacuum source for producing subatmospheric pressure disposed in gaseous communication with the porous material for distributing the sub-atmospheric pressure to the cardiac tissue to be treated.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous material comprises myocardial cells. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises myocardial cells. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous material comprises peripheral muscle cells. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a porous intermediate material for contacting the damaged heart tissue, the porous intermediate material disposed below and in contact with the porous material. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises a vacuum port disposed in gaseous communication with the vacuum source for receiving sub-atmospheric pressure from the vacuum source. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises an adhesive seal for adhering and sealing the cover to cardiac tissue surrounding the damaged cardiac tissue. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises a self-adhesive sheet. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to any one of  claims 1 - 4 , wherein the cover comprises an electrospun material. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to any one of  claims 1 - 4 , wherein the cover comprises poly 1,8-octanediol citrate. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to any one of  claims 1 - 4 , wherein the cover comprises collagen. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to any one of  claims 1 - 4 , wherein the cover comprises a diol citrate. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to any one of  claims 1 - 4 , wherein the cover comprises a cast material. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to any one of  claims 1 - 4 , wherein the cover comprises chitosan. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to any one of  claims 1 - 4 , wherein the cover comprises polylactic acid. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to any one of  claims 1 - 4 , wherein the cover comprises a plurality of printed layers. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to any one of  claims 1 - 4 , wherein the porous material comprises a plurality of printed layers. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum source is configured to maintain a sub-atmospheric pressure of about 50 mm Hg below atmospheric pressure at the damaged cardiac tissue. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum source is configured to maintain sub-atmospheric pressure of between about 50 and 125 mm Hg below atmospheric pressure at the damaged cardiac tissue. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous material comprises a polyethylene, polyurethane, and/or polyester material. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous material comprises a pore size smaller than the size of fibroblasts. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous material comprises collagen. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous material comprises chitosan. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous material comprises polycaprolactone. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous material comprises a polyglycolic and/or polylactic acid. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous material comprises a porous, open-cell collagen material. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous material comprises a porous synthetic polymer material. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous material comprises at least one of a porous sheet and a flexible, sheet-like mesh. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous material comprises two or more layers, with the layer closest to the damaged cardiac tissue containing pores sufficiently small at the interface between the porous material and the damaged cardiac tissue to prevent the growth of tissue therein. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous material comprises a pore size large enough to allow movement of proteins the size of albumin therethrough to permit undesirable compounds to be removed. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum source comprises a vacuum pump.