Application of Photochemotherapy for the Treatment of Cardiac Arrhythmias
Atrial fibrillation (very rapid random heartbeats) is the most common and debilitating electrical abnormality of the heart that affects nearly 2 million Americans and is responsible for 150,000 strokes per year. When drug therapies fail to control the heartbeat, patients require an invasive open chest operation to block the flow and transmission of abnormal electrical signals across the heart. A less invasive alternative to the open heart approach is to place a high energy probe into the heart through a vein in the leg to burn and kill the heart cells responsible for transmitting the abnormal electrical signal. While this approach is promising, the cellular damage created by this high temperature heating leads to a cascade of biological responses that can lead to very serious complications both during and several days and weeks following the procedure. In the case of atrial fibrillation, the region of the heart that is treated incorporates a nearby vein, which is especially prone to becoming obstructed (stenosis) following high temperature damage. Patients that develop moderate to severe stenosis of the vein have a poor prognosis and eventually require heart transplantation. Photodynamic therapy is a technique by which an orally administered drug is activated using a low power laser light. This activation results in chemical reactions that lead to cell death through a derangement of normal cellular proteins and processes. Activation of the drug occurs only in that tissue that is exposed to the light. Most importantly, with certain drugs and cell types, an orderly 'programmed cell death' can be achieved which minimizes or eliminates the cascade of adverse events that lead to complications. Description (Set) Proposed Use (Set) Dr. Lardo and his research team are conducting extensive animal testing at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine that to develop a new technique and medical device for treating patients with atrial fibrillation. This unique approach is based upon PDT technology and a unique catheter design that allows both delivery of light to the area of interest and electrical monitoring of the heart. This technique represents an effective cure for atrial fibrillation without the adverse and often life threatening complications associated with high temperature ablation procedures.Inventor(s): Lardo, Albert C.
Type of Offer: Licensing
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