Randall E Lee

US Patent:

6932804, Aug 23, 2005

Filed:

Jan 21, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/349323

Inventors:

Randall J. Lee - Hillsborough CA, US

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California - Oakland CA

International Classification:

A61M031/00

US Classification:

604506

Abstract:

A system forms a cardiac conduction block at a location in a heart of a patient without substantially ablating cardiac tissue. The system includes a delivery system coupled to a source of material that is substantially non-ablative with respect to cardiac tissue. The delivery system delivers the material to the location, and the material at the location forms a conduction block without ablating the cardiac cells there. The material may include living cells, such as for example skeletal myocytes, and/or may include a non-living matter such as biopolymers such as a fibrin glue agent, or collagen agents. An expandable member with needle assembly is used to deliver the material so as to form a non-ablative circumferential conduction block at a location where a pulmonary vein extends from an atrium.

US Patent:

7252819, Aug 7, 2007

Filed:

Nov 7, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/291202

Inventors:

Randall J. Lee - San Francisco CA, US

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California - Oakland CA

International Classification:

A01K 48/00

US Classification:

424 9321, 435 691, 4353201, 435325

Abstract:

The invention provides methods for establishing electrical coupling between cardiomyocytes and recombinant cells which have been genetically engineered to express a connexin protein such as connexin 43 (Cx43) protein. The invention is based on the discovery that genetic modification of skeletal muscle cells to express a recombinant connexin, enables the genetically modified cells to establish electrocommunication with cardiac cells via gap junctions. The recombinant connexin-expressing cells can be used for repair of cardiac tissue and for treatment of cardiac disease by transplantation into cardiac tissue.

US Patent:

7317950, Jan 8, 2008

Filed:

Feb 24, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/374899

Inventors:

Randall J. Lee - Hillsborough CA, US

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California - Oakland CA

International Classification:

A61N 1/05
A61N 1/362
A61N 1/39

US Classification:

607122, 607 3, 607 5, 607 9

Abstract:

A cardiac stimulation assembly includes an energy source coupled to an energy emitter that extends form a delivery member into a region of tissue in the heart. An array of the emitters are adapted to extend from a delivery assembly and into unique locations along the region of tissue, such as by use of extendable, pre-shaped needles. A volume of conductive agent is delivered into the region and enhances stimulation of the region with the energy emitter. The agent may be an injectable preparation of living cells that express production of connexin, e. g. connexin 43, and may be genetically modified to over-express such production. The agent may include a non-living material, such as conductive polymer or metal or combination thereof. The combination of energy emitters and conductive agent enhances stimulation of the region. Delivering the stimulation assembly and conductive agent into the interventricular septum allows for improved biventricular septal pacing.

US Patent:

7494644, Feb 24, 2009

Filed:

Dec 5, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/635810

Inventors:

Randall J. Lee - San Francisco CA, US

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California - Oakland CA

International Classification:

A01K 48/00

US Classification:

424 9321, 435 691, 4353201, 435325

Abstract:

The invention provides methods for establishing electrical coupling between cardiomyocytes and recombinant cells which have been genetically engineered to express a connexin protein such as connexin 43 (Cx43) protein. The invention is based on the discovery that genetic modification of skeletal muscle cells to express a recombinant connexin, enables the genetically modified cells to establish electrocommunication with cardiac cells via gap junctions. The recombinant connexin-expressing cells can be used for repair of cardiac tissue and for treatment of cardiac disease by transplantation into cardiac tissue.

US Patent:

20040002740, Jan 1, 2004

Filed:

May 7, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/434419

Inventors:

Randall Lee - Hillsborough CA, US

Assignee:

THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

International Classification:

A61N001/36

US Classification:

607/009000

Abstract:

A system forms a conduction block in a regions of cardiac tissue at a location associated with a cardiac arrhythmia by delivering a material that is non-ablative into the region. The material include living cells that do not form sufficient gap-junctions with cardiomyocytes to conduct, e.g. myoblasts, stem cells, or fibroblasts. The material may be a non-living agent, such as a polymer agent, e.g. fibrin glue agent or collagen agent. The material may be a combination of living and non-living material that enhances the cellular conduction block. A contact member delivers the material over a patterned region of tissue, such as arcuate, linear, or circumferential patterns. The contact member may include an expandable member or balloon. A guidewire may be used for delivery. Cells used may be autologous, prepared for injection with a kit. Conduction blocks are thus formed without substantially ablating cardiac tissue in the region.

US Patent:

20040005295, Jan 8, 2004

Filed:

May 7, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/435714

Inventors:

Randall Lee - Hillsborough CA, US
Mark Maciejewski - Edina MN, US

International Classification:

A61K048/00

US Classification:

424/093200, 607/003000, 604/522000

Abstract:

A system delivers fibroblasts to a region of cardiac tissue at a location associated with a cardiac arrhythmia in a patient to form a conduction block in the region. A cardiac delivery system is coupled to a source the fibroblasts and delivers the fibroblasts to the location to form a conduction block. Substantial cardiac ablation is thus avoided. A contact member is shaped to correspond with a patterned region of tissue for delivering the fibroblasts along the pattern, such as linear, curvilinear, or circumferential patterns as required for treating particular arrhythmias. A pulmonary vein isolation assembly has an expandable or loop-shaped member cooperating with a needle array that delivers the fibroblast cells into a circumferential region of tissue engaged by the expandable member where a pulmonary vein extends from an atrium. Methods include providing the fibroblast cells as autologous cells in an injectable preparation.

US Patent:

20040106896, Jun 3, 2004

Filed:

Dec 23, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/329295

Inventors:

Randall Lee - Hillsborough CA, US
Karen Christman - San Francisco CA, US
Richard Sievers - Petaluma CA, US

Assignee:

THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

International Classification:

A61M037/00

US Classification:

604/082000, 604/522000

Abstract:

A system forms a cardiac conduction block at a location in a heart of a patient without substantially ablating cardiac tissue. The system includes a delivery system coupled to a source of material that is substantially non-ablative with respect to cardiac tissue. The delivery system delivers the material to the location, and the material at the location forms a conduction block without ablating the cardiac cells there. The material may include living cells, such as for example skeletal myocytes, and/or may include a non-living matter such as biopolymers such as a fibrin glue agent. An expandable member with needle assembly is used to deliver the material so as to form a non-ablative circumferential conduction block at a location where a pulmonary vein extends from an atrium.

US Patent:

20050233444, Oct 20, 2005

Filed:

May 31, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/142180

Inventors:

Randall Lee - Hillsborough CA, US

International Classification:

C12N005/06

US Classification:

435343000, 604522000, 604093010

Abstract:

A system forms a cardiac conduction block at a location in a heart of a patient without substantially ablating cardiac tissue. The system includes a delivery system coupled to a source of material that is substantially non-ablative with respect to cardiac tissue. The delivery system delivers the material to the location, and the material at the location forms a conduction block without ablating the cardiac cells there. The material may include living cells, such as for example skeletal myocytes, and/or may include a non-living matter such as biopolymers such as a fibrin glue agent, or collagen agents. An expandable member with needle assembly is used to deliver the material so as to form a non-ablative circumferential conduction block at a location where a pulmonary vein extends from an atrium.