Method for inducing the growth of new arteries in the myocardium

Abstract

The creation of new coronary arteries has long been an objective of cardiac research. I describe a method for creating new blood vessels in the myocardium of the left ventricular wall in animals. The myocardium was pierced by a fistula. Then a biodegradable hydrogel fiber with antithrombogenic and nonadhesive properties was inserted into the fistula with a venous catheter. Nine dogs were used. Three fibers were inserted in each heart, and two additional punctures were made and left empty as controls. During absorption of the fiber, the luminal surface of the fistula became lined with endothelial cells and developed many openings to capillary blood vessels of the myocardium naturally. Three straight fibers were inserted so they intersected in the myocardium. They created a new branched vessel. The fistulas had connections to original coronary arteries and worked as new arteries to supply blood to the area where they were created. It was possible to create new blood vessels in the myocardium in animals.