Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A system for vascularizing a selected portion of the myocardium of the heart of a living being, the selected portion of the myocardium having a plurality of channels at spaced locations from one another within the selected portion of the myocardium, said system comprising a plurality of elongated inserts and a deployment instrument for deploying said inserts into respective ones of the channels, at least a portion of each of said inserts being formed of a resorbable material to stimulate angiogenesis in the myocardium, said inserts when deployed within the channels being resistant to migration and not significantly limiting the contractility of the being's heart, said resorbable portion of said inserts resorbing over time in the selected portion of the myocardium and serving to elicit a foreign body or healing response in the tissue making up the selected portion of the myocardium to form plural blood-carrying lumens in the myocardium and enhance to flow of blood to the myocardium even if the channels close down after said resorbable portion of said inserts has resorbed.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
174 words
A system for vascularizing a selected portion of the myocardium of the heart of a living being, the selected portion of the myocardium having a plurality of channels at spaced locations from one another within the selected portion of the myocardium, said system comprising a plurality of elongated inserts and a deployment instrument for deploying said inserts into respective ones of the channels, at least a portion of each of said inserts being formed of a resorbable material to stimulate angiogenesis in the myocardium, said inserts when deployed within the channels being resistant to migration and not significantly limiting the contractility of the being's heart, said resorbable portion of said inserts resorbing over time in the selected portion of the myocardium and serving to elicit a foreign body or healing response in the tissue making up the selected portion of the myocardium to form plural blood-carrying lumens in the myocardium and enhance to flow of blood to the myocardium even if the channels close down after said resorbable portion of said inserts has resorbed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said inserts are arranged to enable blood to flow therethrough.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said system includes means to limit the depth of penetration of said inserts into the wall of the myocardium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said deployment instrument is arranged to be inserted into the interior of the heart to introduce said inserts into the myocardium via the endocardium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said deployment instrument is arranged to be inserted into the chest cavity to introduce said inserts into the myocardium via the epicardium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said system includes a piercing device for producing the channels in the myocardium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 6 wherein said deployment instrument is arranged to deploy said inserts into respective ones of the channels after the formation thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 6 wherein said deployment instrument includes said piercing device and wherein said deployment instrument is arranged to deploy said inserts into respective ones of the channels.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 6 wherein said piercing device comprises a member arranged to mechanically pierce into the myocardium to produce the channels.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 6 wherein said piercing device comprises means for applying energy to the myocardium to produce the channels.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 10 wherein said energy is selected from the group consisting of one or more of mechanical, electrical, thermal, electromagnetic, vibratory, hydraulic, pneumatic, and nuclear energy.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 11 wherein said piercing device comprises means for applying a biologically active material to the myocardium to result in the production of the channels.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1 wherein each of said inserts is arranged to pierce the myocardium to produce a respective one of the channels.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 wherein each of said inserts comprises an anchor for anchoring it in position within the myocardium.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 14 wherein each of said inserts additionally comprises an elongated portion coupled to said anchor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 15 wherein said elongated portion comprises a filament.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 1 additionally comprising means for monitoring the cardiac cycle and for coordinating the operation of said deployment device with the cardiac cycle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said system includes stabilizing means for stabilizing the position of said deployment instrument adjacent the myocardium during the deployment of said inserts.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said inserts additionally comprises one or more of the group consisting of pharmaceuticals, biologically active materials, growth factors, radioactive materials, and radiopaque materials.