AN IN VIVO ANIMAL MODEL OF CHRONIC ARTERIAL OCCLUSION AND USE OF COLLAGENASE TO FACILITATE GUIDE WIRE CROSSING IN CHRONIC ARTERIAL OCCLUSIONS

摘要

The field of the invention relates to percutaneous interventions of occluded arteries using local infusion of collagenase or a combination of enzymes that include collagenase. A method of is provided for treating chronically occluded animal tubes and cavities by administering a therapeutic effective amount of a proteolytic enzyme-containing formulation adjacent to an occluding atherosclerotic plaque, waiting for a pre-angioplasty waiting period, followed by crossing the plaque with an angioplasty guide wire. An in-vivo animal model of developing a chronic arterial occlusions is provided having the steps of isolating a segment of an animal artery, stopping blood flow with occlusive ligatures in the isolated arterial segment of the animal artery, injecting topical thrombin into the isolated arterial segment to form an acute thrombotic occlusion, and waiting while the acute thrombotic occlusion is converted into a chronic fibrotic occlusion.