Singapore, March 18, 2008: Bioheart, a US biotechnology company focused on the development of patient-derived cell therapies and devices for the treatment of chronic and acute heart damage, has been awarded US patent for a method to repair damaged myocardium (heart tissue) by a combination of cell transplantation and electrostimulation.

 

The patent covers methods for repairing damaged heart tissue by providing electrostimulation to patient-derived myogenic cells either in the laboratory while the cells are expanding or after the cells are implanted into the damaged areas of the patient's heart. One potential application for this technology that Bioheart is exploring is to adapt a bi-ventricular pacemaker with a separate lead that could apply the electrostimulation to the cell-transplanted regions. Electrostimulation induces the cells to contract in an even more synchronized basis with the surrounding tissue and increase their ability to release growth factors and other beneficial proteins.

 

This patent is complimentary to Bioheart's previously granted patent for inducing angiogenesis by electrical stimulation. Another application for this technology may be to combine it with Bioheart's MyoCell therapy for the recovery of heart muscle in cardiac patients afflicted with damaged heart tissue.

 

Mr William M Pinon, President and CEO of Bioheart said this procedure could one day be a cost-effective solution to improve patient outcomes and enhance the quality of life for cardiac patients worldwide.