Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are related to monitoring devices and methods with osmometric sensors, amongst other things. In an embodiment, the invention includes an implantable heart failure monitoring system including an implantable osmometric sensor configured to generate a signal corresponding to osmotic strength of a bodily fluid, the osmometric sensor comprising a rigid wall member defining an enclosed volume resisting deformation, the rigid wall member comprising a semi-permeable membrane; a signaling element comprising a first pressure sensor; and a second pressure sensor. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are related to monitoring devices and methods with osmometric sensors, amongst other things. In an embodiment, the invention includes an implantable heart failure monitoring system including an osmometric sensor, the osmometric sensor configured to generate a signal corresponding to the osmotic strength of a bodily fluid, and a controller in communication with the osmometric sensor, the controller configured to receive and process the signal corresponding to the osmotic strength of a bodily fluid. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.

Abstract: A biologic agent delivery system provides for delivery of a biologic agent to a stimulation site to which electrical stimulation pulses are to be delivered from an electrical stimulation device. Examples of the electrical stimulation device include cardiac pacemakers and neural stimulators. The biologic agent modifies tissue property to lower the stimulation threshold of the stimulation site. The genetic modification of the tissue property improves efficacy and/or energy efficiency of an electrical stimulation therapy.

Abstract: A system and method are described involving the use of a cell delivery catheter that incorporates a stimulating electrode to promote vasodilation prior to injection of cells at a target location within a blood vessel. The vasodilation may be produced locally and/or distally from the target location near the target organ. The technique may be applied not only to intra-coronary injection of cells to treat heart disease but to injection of cells in any blood vessel that feeds a target organ.

Abstract: Bioscaffoldings formed of hydrogels that are crosslinked in situ in an infarcted region of the heart (myocardium) by a Michael's addition reaction or by a disulfide bond formed by an oxidative process are described. Each of the bioscaffoldings described includes hyaluronan as one of the hydrogel components and the other component is selected from collagen, collagen-laminin, poly-1-lysine, and fibrin. The bioscaffolding may further include an alginate component. The bioscaffoldings may have biofunctional groups such as angiogenic factors and stem cell homing factors bound to the collagen, collagen-laminin, poly-1-lysine, or fibrinogen hydrogel component. In particular, the biofunctional groups may be PR11, PR39, VEGF, bFGF, a polyarginine/DNA plasmid complex, or a DNA/polyethyleneimine (PEI) complex. Additionally, the hydrogel components may be injected into the infarct region along with stem cells and microspheres containing stem cell homing factors.

Abstract: Electrodes for tissue stimulation and sensing can comprise a support with nanostructures disposed on the support. Pairs of the electrodes can be placed in close proximity to one another. When electrical energy is supplied to the electrodes, an electrical field (and possibly an electrical current) can be established between the nanostructures on the electrodes. The nanostructures may have cells disposed thereon, for example myocardial cells, myocardial progenitor cells, neural cells and/or stem cells. In addition, the electrodes can be arranged in arrays.

Abstract: Electrodes for tissue stimulation and sensing can comprise a support with nanostructures disposed on the support. Pairs of the electrodes can be placed in close proximity to one another. When electrical energy is supplied to the electrodes, an electrical field (and possibly an electrical current) can be established between the nanostructures on the electrodes. The nanostructures may have cells disposed thereon, for example myocardial cells, myocardial progenitor cells, neural cells and/or stem cells. In addition, the electrodes can be arranged in arrays.

Abstract: The invention provides a cardiac rhythm management system which includes a tachyarrhythmia detection and classification circuit programmed to detect and classify a tachyarrhythmia, a biologic therapy delivery device configured to deliver or regulate an expression cassette suitable for terminating or preventing atrial fibrillation (AF), and a control circuit coupled to the tachyarrhythmia detection and classification circuit and the biologic therapy delivery device. Also provided is an implantable medical device for use in a body having a cardiovascular system, which includes an implantable device body including at least a cardiovascular portion configured to be in the cardiovascular system, and an expression cassette incorporated into the cardiovascular portion of the implantable device body, the expression cassette selected to express a gene product that terminates or prevents AF. Further provided are methods which employ particular expression cassettes to prevent, inhibit or treat AF.

Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, is a device for providing a localized vasomodulation of a vessel. According to an embodiment, the device includes a thermal element configured to conduct thermal energy between the thermal element and a desired region of the vessel wall to elicit the localized vasomodulation of the vessel at the desired region. The device also includes a controller operationally connected to the thermal element. The controller is adapted to control the conduction of thermal energy between the thermal element and the desired region of the vessel wall to control the localized vasomodulation of the vessel at the desired region. In various embodiments, a sensor connected to the device provides feedback to the controller.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are related to monitoring devices and methods with osmometric sensors, amongst other things. In an embodiment, the invention includes an implantable heart failure monitoring system including an osmometric sensor, the osmometric sensor configured to generate a signal corresponding to the osmotic strength of a bodily fluid, and a controller in communication with the osmometric sensor, the controller configured to receive and process the signal corresponding to the osmotic strength of a bodily fluid. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.

Abstract: Vectors, systems having implantable devices and methods useful to detect or treat ischemia are provided.

Abstract: An in vitro cell conditioning system allows for electrical conditioning of cells in preparation for a cell therapy. Electrical stimulation pulses are delivered to the cells placed in a culturing medium. Following the electrical conditioning, the cells are selected according to predetermined criteria. In one embodiment, apoptotic cells are removed from the conditioned cells. In another embodiment, cells with specified surface marker expression are selected. The selected cells are prepared for implantation into living tissue.

Abstract: Described are devices, systems, and methods for photoreactive operations involving the use of a photolyzable caged molecule as a photoreactive agent. The caged molecule may be a therapeutic or diagnostic agent. Also described is an implantable device configured to perform photoreactive operations in the form of photoreactive therapy and/or photoreactive diagnostic studies in either a clinical or ambulatory setting.

Abstract: A gene regulatory system controls biomarker, gene therapy or endogenous gene expression by emitting one or more forms of energy that regulate gene expression. The system may include a sensor to sense a signal indicative of a need for therapy. The regulation of gene expression is controlled based on the sensed signal and/or a user command. In one embodiment, the system delivers one or more electrical therapies in conjunction with controlling gene therapy or endogenous gene expression.

Abstract: A biologic agent delivery system provides for delivery of a biologic agent to a stimulation site to which electrical stimulation pulses are to be delivered from an electrical stimulation device. Examples of the electrical stimulation device include cardiac pacemakers and neural stimulators. The biologic agent modifies tissue property to lower the stimulation threshold of the stimulation site. The genetic modification of the tissue property improves efficacy and/or energy efficiency of an electrical stimulation therapy.

Abstract: A system and device are provided which include a gene regulatory system controlling expression of one or more expression cassettes present in or released by the device, by emitting one or more stimulations. An expression cassette includes a regulatable transcription control element that is responsive to the emitted stimulations linked to an open reading frame of interest. The system optionally includes a sensor to sense a parameter indicative of a need, a telemetry module to receive an external command, or a programmable device, for regulating gene expression of the open reading frame.

Abstract: Cardiac protection pacing is applied to prevent or reduce cardiac injury and/or occurrences of arrhythmia associated with an ischemic event including the occlusion of a blood vessel during a revascularization procedure. Pacing pulses are generated from a pacemaker and delivered through one or more pacing electrodes incorporated onto a percutaneous transluminal vascular intervention (PTVI) device used in the revascularization procedure. The pacemaker generates the pacing pulses according to a predetermined cardiac protection pacing sequence before, during, and/or after the ischemic event.