APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CARDIAC TISSUE MODULATION BY TOPICAL APPLICATION OF VACUUM TO MINIMIZE CELL DEATH AND DAMAGE

摘要

A method and apparatus are provided fortreating cardiac tissue to modulate ischemic heart tissuewith topical sub-atmospheric pressure to minimize celldeath and damage comprising placing a porous materialproximate the damaged cardiac tissue to provide gaseouscommunication between one or more pores of the porousmaterial and the damaged cardiac tissue, the porous mate-rialcomprising at least one of an electrospun material, acast material, an open-cell foam, and a printed material,sealing the porous material in situ over the damaged car-diactissue to provide a region about the damaged cardiactissue for maintaining sub-atmospheric pressure at thedamaged cardiac tissue, operably connecting a vacuumsource in gaseous communication with the porous materialfor producing sub-atmospheric pressure at the damagedcardiac tissue, and activating the vacuum source to providesub-atmospheric pressure at the damaged cardiac tissue.