Abstract: A system for advancing a needle through a vasculature to an injection site at the heart of a patient includes a guide catheter with a reflective distal tip. Also included is an imaging unit that is mounted on the catheter to radiate an energy field. Structurally, a distal portion of the catheter is biased to bend into a predetermined configuration that will position the distal end of the catheter for interception by the energy field. If necessary, coincidence of the reflective tip with the energy field is established by moving the energy field along the length of the guide catheter. With coincidence, the reflective tip reflects a signal that is useful for advancement of the needle from the guide catheter and into the injection site.

Abstract: Computer-assisted processes are disclosed for using nuclear medicine image studies (e.g. PET or SPECT), preferably in combination with anatomic image studies (e.g., CT or MRI), to identify and quantify regions of affected organ tissue (e.g., myocardial infarcts), and to calculate doses of stem cells or other therapy to deliver to such regions. The resulting (static) image data showing the affected tissue may also be integrated with live (moving) image data, such as a fluoroscopy image, during a subsequent interventional procedure to generate a hybrid image showing the real time location of an injection catheter relative to the affected tissue.

Abstract: Medical imaging processes are disclosed for facilitating the catheter-based delivery of stem cells or other therapy to affected organ tissue, including myocardial infarct and peri-infarct tissue. The disclosed processes include the integration of static image data showing the affected tissue with a live/moving image (e.g., a fluoroscopy image) to generate a hybrid view showing the real time location of an injection catheter relative to the affected tissue. The static image data may include or be derived from one or more noninvasive nuclear medicine imaging scans (e.g., PET or SPECT) generated prior to the catheterization procedure. The live image may also be augmented with visual markers showing target and/or actual injection locations. Also disclosed are methods for calculating amounts of therapy to deliver to the affected tissue.

Abstract: A system for moving particles suspended in a first fluid, and for infusing them into the stream of a second fluid, includes a catheter with a multi-lumen distal tip. The tip is formed with a plurality of parallel lumens, wherein each lumen has a predetermined diameter. Importantly, the diameter of each lumen is dimensioned to sequentially receive particles therethrough, to prevent the particles from flocculating before they enter the stream of the second fluid. A valve, affixed to the outside of the catheter, can be provided to regulate flow of the second fluid and thereby facilitate entry of the particles into the stream of the second fluid.

Abstract: The invention is a medical device for containing and/or dispensing a therapeutic agent or a placebo to a patient. The medical device is preferably a syringe or an intravenous (IV) infusion system. A device according to the invention has a viewing portion through which a therapeutic agent or placebo contained therein may be seen by a patient or operator. The viewing portion is colored so that a therapeutic agent having a first color and a placebo having a second color that is different from the second color are virtually or entirely indistinguishable when contained within the device and viewed through the viewing portion.

Abstract: A medical device includes a needle and optionally a catheter and a sheath. The device takes a biopsy from a body tissue and/or injects a substance into a body tissue, such as heart tissue. One or more ports are located on the needle to either take a biopsy and/or inject a substance. If a catheter is included as part of the device, a relative motion restrictor may be included to restrict relative movement during needle deployment between the catheter and the sheath. Additionally, a driver may be employed to deploy the needle with one or more of a predefined force, acceleration and velocity to assist in needle penetration.

Abstract: Medical devices are delineated that may include a needle, a catheter and a sheath. Such devices may be used to take a biopsy from a patient and/or inject fluid into a patient, particularly in the patient's heart tissue. One or more ports may be located between the ends of the needle to facilitate the desired medical procedure. A relative motion restrictor may be included to restrict relative movement during needle deployment between the catheter and the sheath. Additionally, a driver may be employed to deploy the needle with one or more of a predefined force, acceleration and velocity to ease needle penetration.