Novel Device for Determining the Viability of Human Myocardium Or Other Animal Tissues

Background: The last decade of cardiac surgery has witnessed significant strides towards better understanding and better management of previously lethal cardiac pathology. Such developments have led to a general recognition of previously unknown conditions such as myocardial stunning and hibernation in which the injured myocardium is in a state of suspended animation. Unfortunately, such states can easily be mistaken for total necrosis. Because such tissues are actually viable and could be salvaged by the cardiac surgeon, it is, of course important to distinguish them from tissues which are totally infarcted where a surgical intervention would be a waste. Such ability to distinguish infarcted tissue from that which is merely stunned would be highly useful in several clinical situations. A few examples would be: 1. Determination of salvageable myocardium in cardiomyopathy or advanced cardiac valve disease 2. Determination of salvageable myocardium following acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) 3. Evaluation of myocardial muscle around cardiac surgical sites 4. Evaluation of myocardial viability after open heart surgery for acquired or congenital heart disease 5. Detection of rejected myocardium following transplants. Technology: Cardiology researchers at the University of California, Irvine, in close collaboration with a prominent cardiac surgeon have invented a device which, using a probe placed at the end of a suitable catheter, can be used to test the myocardium and to distinguish tissues which are totally infarcted or merely stunned or hibernating. Present means for detection of viable myocardium are time consuming, risky, only partially accurate and not readily available. This new device promises to be simple to use, quite accurate and readily available. Consequently. we believe that this technology will represent a significant advance in cardiac treatment. Additionally, the concept on which this device is based also is expected to have utility in determining the viability of numerous other types of animal tissue.

Patents:
US 5,497,770

Type of Offer: Licensing



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