Abstract: A method for delivering a therapeutic agent directly to the heart employing minimally invasive techniques and concepts. In particular, the delivery of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) is performed endovascularly or endoscopically to a region of a patient's heart treated with transmyocardial revascularization (TMR). A system is provided for inducing cardioplegic arrest. An aortic occlusion device has an inflatable balloon which occludes the ascending aorta when inflated. Cardioplegic fluid may be infused through a lumen of the aortic occlusion device to stop the heart while the patient's circulatory system is supported on cardiopulmonary bypass. A side-firing fiberoptic laser is introduced through the aortic occlusion device in the endovascular technique to perform TMR. Subsequently, a therapeutic agent delivery catheter is directed into one of the coronary arteries to deliver and dissipate the VEGF into the surrounding vascular plexus to promote angiogenesis stimulation.

Abstract: A remote data collection system for use with a photo-minilab includes an on-site data collector and a host computer. The on-site data collector controls collection of data and information regarding operation of the apparatus and communicates with the host computer to download data from the on-site data collector to be stored into pre-designated data tables. The on-site data collector allows for manual entry of data and control commands via keypads and accesses on-site monitoring devices by program control to gather production data and quality control information.