Abstract: A catheter system may include an adapter and a catheter configured to improve the field of vision and support of a catheter during surgical and interventional procedures, such as open-heart procedures. The adapter may include at least one suture securing member configured to releasably secure a suture with respect to a catheter. The adapter may include at least one grip section configured to be gripped by digit(s) of a user. The catheter may include a platform member that includes at least one connecting member configured to receive and support a lumen of a catheter.

Abstract: A catheter adapted for use in passing fluids and medicines therethrough for use in the perfusion or reperfusion of blood or blood-fluid mixtures into the arteries, veins, tissues, conduits, or organs of a patient by selectively adjusting the flow rate of fluid supplied to a drug delivery lumen of the catheter based at least in part on the sensed systemic fluid pressure and the sensed fluid pressure at a distal end of the catheter is disclosed.

Abstract: A cardioplegia catheter system for delivery of a cardioplegia solution, comprising a cardioplegia catheter comprising an elongate tubular catheter body that defines a continuous central lumen and a flange that is connected to and extends therefrom an exterior surface of the catheter body, the flange defining a plurality of suture openings that extend therethrough the flange from a top surface to a bottom surface thereof. The cardioplegia system further comprising at least one stay suture and at least one suture capture stylet having a distal portion that is adapted to extend through one suture opening of the plurality of suture openings in the flange of the catheter body, wherein the distal portion of the rod has a shape that is adapted for slideably grasping a portion of the at least one stay suture.

Abstract: A catheter adapted for use in passing fluids and medicines therethrough for use in the perfusion or reperfusion of blood or blood-fluid mixtures into the arteries, veins, tissues, conduits, or organs of a patient by selectively adjusting the flow rate of fluid supplied to a drug delivery lumen of the catheter based at least in part on the sensed systemic fluid pressure and the sensed fluid pressure at a distal end of the catheter is disclosed.

Abstract: A catheter adapted for use in passing fluids and medicines therethrough for use in the perfusion or reperfusion of blood or blood-fluid mixtures into the arteries, veins, tissues, conduits, or organs of a patient is disclosed. The catheter has an elongate tubular body with an elongate central lumen defined therein. The catheter also includes at least one occlusive balloon disposed on the exterior of and about the tubular body, and a drug delivery lumen defined within the tubular body separately of the central lumen and extending in the lengthwise direction of the tubular body. A drug delivery outlet is defined at and in communication with a distal end of the drug delivery lumen for permitting the delivery of fluids passed through the drug delivery lumen separate of any fluids passed through the central lumen of the catheter.

Abstract: A cardioplegia catheter system for delivery of a cardioplegia solution, comprising a cardioplegia catheter comprising an elongate tubular catheter body that defines a continuous central lumen and a flange that is connected to and extends therefrom an exterior surface of the catheter body, the flange defining a plurality of suture openings that extend therethrough the flange from a top surface to a bottom surface thereof. The cardioplegia system further comprising at least one stay suture and at least one suture capture stylet having a distal portion that is adapted to extend through one suture opening of the plurality of suture openings in the flange of the catheter body, wherein the distal portion of the rod has a shape that is adapted for slideably grasping a portion of the at least one stay suture.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method of postconditioning reperfusion of an organ or tissue injured by ischemia in combination with the administration of one or more tissue protective agents that enhance the effect of postconditioning. Also provided is a method of treating a myocardial infarction in a subject to prevent injury to the heart following reperfusion of the heart in combination with the administration of one or more tissue protective agents that enhance the effect of postconditioning.

Abstract: A postconditioning method and system for preventing injury to an organ or tissue in a subject during or after reperfusion following an ischemic event to the organ or tissue. The system can exemplarily include a catheter configured for insertion therein a vessel of the subject; a means for modulating the flow of fluid within the vessel of the subject; and a control system in communication with the means for modulating the flow of fluid configured to control pulsation of the flow of fluid within the vessel for a desired period of time and at a desired pulsatile frequency.

Abstract: Methods and compositions including combined use of a serine protease inhibitor and adenosine when administered as a single pharmaceutical composition, concomitantly or sequentially in any order to a living subject for preventing organ ischemia or reperfusion injury. The methods and compositions disclosed herein can be used in such procedures as cardiac surgery, non-surgical cardiac revascularization, organ transplantation, perfusion, ischemia, reperfusion, ischemia-reperfusion injury, oxidant injury, cytokine induced injury, shock induced injury, resuscitations injury or apoptosis.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for preventing or reducing vascular smooth muscle contraction are provided. Exemplary compositions comprise an MLCK inhibitor, for example wortmannin, in an amount effective to prevent or reduce vascular smooth muscle vasospams by about 90% for at least about 20 minutes. Methods for identifying other modulators of MLCK are also provided.

Abstract: Methods for minimizing spasticity in blood vessels during transplantation, in both ex-vivo and in-vivo procedures are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to me methods for minimizing spasticity in blood vessels during transplantation and more particularly for minimizing spasticity in arterial transplants, for both ex-vivo and in-vivo procedures. The invention also relates to formulations, which can be used in these methods.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of post-conditioning reperfusion of an organ or tissue injured by ischemia. Also provided is a method of treating a myocardial infarction in a subject to prevent injury to the heart following reperfusion of the heart.

Abstract: A catheter adapted for use in passing fluids and medicines therethrough for use in the perfusion or reperfusion of blood or blood-fluid mixtures into the arteries, veins, tissues, conduits, or organs of a patient is disclosed. The catheter has an elongate tubular body with an elongate central lumen defined therein. The catheter also includes at least one occlusive balloon disposed on the exterior of and about the tubular body, and a drug delivery lumen defined within the tubular body separately of the central lumen and extending in the lengthwise direction of the tubular body. A drug delivery outlet is defined at and in communication with a distal end of the drug delivery lumen for permitting the delivery of fluids passed through the drug delivery lumen separate of any fluids passed through the central lumen of the catheter.

Abstract: A system and method for precisely controlling the delivery of two fluids to a specific organ or region of a patient when one of the fluids breaks down the other fluid. The fluids are separately metered and are maintained in separate delivery lines until a point very near the target organ, preferably within twelve inches of the delivery site. In an exemplary embodiment, blood and a cardioplegic agent are supplied to the heart via the coronary arteries or coronary veins while adenosine, which provides a powerful protective influence on the myocardial cells during ischemia, is provided in a separate delivery line to prevent the breakdown of adenosine, which has a half-life of 13 seconds in the blood.

Abstract: The present invention relates to me methods for minimizing spasticity in blood vessels during transplantation and more particularly for minimizing spasticity in arterial transplants, for both ex-vivo and in-vivo procedures. The invention also relates to formulations, which can be used in these methods.