Mediventures Inc.

Mdv Technologies, Inc.

Iotek, Inc.

University of Michigan

Phrixus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Other

Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp.

Pluromed, Inc.

Lorraine E Reeve

Tacey X Viegas

Raymond L Henry

Stephen G Flore

Frederick J Foley

Robert S Levinson

Michael F Hoey

James S Sharrow

Thomas G Adelman

Joseph M Metzger

Bruce Edward Markham

Rainer Ng

Michael G Hinsberg

Luis A Dellamary

Jeffry G Weers

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for treating and preventing skeletal muscle deficiencies. In particular, the present invention provides compositions comprising poloxamers (e.g., poloxamer 188-P188) and methods of using the same for treating and preventing skeletal muscle deficiencies and injuries (e.g., dystrophin-deficient skeletal muscle; skeletal muscle having a contraction force deficit; skeletal muscle having a Caimbalance; skeletal muscle having microtears).

Compositions and methods for treating and preventing skeletal muscle deficiencies

A process for the purification or fractionation of aqueous soluble polymers using an aqueous two-phase system is described. The concentrations of the polymer to be fractionated and of an aqueous soluble salt, and the temperature of the aqueous fractionation medium are adjusted so that two phases form, the lower molecular weight polymer molecules partition into the high salt concentration phase, and the higher molecular weight polymer molecules partition into the low salt concentration phase. The resulting high molecular weight polymers are characterized by a higher average molecular weight and a narrower molecular weight distribution and decreased unsaturation than the unfractionated polymers. After being subjected to the fractionation process, polyol polymers that form hydrogels in aqueous solution exhibited higher viscosities and a liquid to gel transition over a narrower temperature range than the unfractionated polyol polymers.

Process for the fractionation of polymers

Devices and a method are provided to assist a surgeon in ablating conduction paths in tissue, such as a heart. A device can be configured to operate as a template that adheres to the tissue surface, and allows the surgeon to more easily sever the conduction path to form a lesion in a desired location. In particular, the template can be used to guide the surgeon's use of a surgical instrument along a desired ablation path. In some case, the template may incorporate hardware that structurally supports the instrument for travel along the ablation path. A surgical instrument such as an ablation probe, e.g., radio frequency, laser, ultrasonic, microwave, thermal, chemical, mechanical, or cryogenic ablation probe, may be used to sever the conduction paths. Measurements made substantially contemporaneously with the conduction path ablation operation may be used to evaluate whether the desired degree of ablation has been achieved. The device may also incorporate feedback to compare the desired degree of conduction path ablation with the measured degree, and may deactivate the surgical instrument when the desired degree has been achieved. In some cases, the template device can be configured to provide local stabilization of organ tissue, particularly for a moving organ such as a beating heart. In other cases, the template device may provide little or no stabilization, but provide a guide structure for placement of the ablation probe in the same frame of motion as the moving tissue. Also, for some applications, the template device may be arranged to facilitate application of other therapeutic devices, such as diagnostic probes, pacing leads, and drug delivery devices, to the surface of a moving organ.

Surgical devices and methods for use in tissue ablation procedures

Devices and methods of manipulating and stabilizing organ tissue, such as heart tissue. The devices, which are of varying sizes, shapes and conformations, generally include a seal member having a chamber with a wall and a skirt-like member that extends outward from the chamber wall for contact with a surface of an organ. The skirt-like member is substantially compliant and tacky, thereby promoting adhesion with the organ surface. Adherence of the device to the tissue may be enhance by the mechanical or hydraulic application of vacuum pressure. The methods describe steps for manipulating, including moving, lifting, immobilizing, turning and reorienting, organ tissues. Additional methods describe steps for manipulating the heart.

Devices and method for manipulation of organ tissue

Non-gelling polyoxyalkylene compositions, and methods of their use for inhibiting surgical adhesion formation/reformation in mammals are disclosed. The useful non-gelling compositions preferably comprise polyoxyalkylene block copolymer at desired concentrations with or without a therapeutic agent. When used with an incorporated drug, the non-gelling compositions serve as a carrier providing sustained or prolonged release of the therapeutic agent.

Method and non-gelling composition for inhibiting post-surgical adhesions

A method and compositions for reducing post-surgical adhesion formation/reformation in mammals following surgical injury to a body cavity or organs situated therein. The aqueous compositions comprising pentoxifylline and a polyoxyalkylene block copolymer are applied to the injured areas subsequent to surgical injury.

Method and composition for inhibiting post-surgical adhesions

Balanced pH, thermo-irreversible gels are ideal vehicles for drug delivery to a body cavity of a mammal. The gels contain a mixture of a polyoxyalkylene block copolymer or polyether together with an ionic polysaccharide which is thermo-irreversibly gelled in the presence of a counter-ion.

Body cavity drug delivery with thermo-irreversible polyoxyalkylene and ionic polysaccharide gels

The present invention provides a composition comprising one or more constitutive polymers and modifier polymers and/or hydrophilic co-surfactants useful for reducing adhesions or delivering bioactive agents. Methods for preventing and/or reducing post-surgical adhesions or delivering bioactive agents are provided.

Methods and compositions for the delivery of pharmaceutical agents and/or the prevention of adhesions

Balanced pH, hyperosmotic, hypoosmotic, or isoosmotic gels are ideal vehicles for drug delivery. They are especially suited for topical body cavity or injection application of drugs or diagnostic agents; for drug or diagnostic agent delivery to the eye of a mammal; as protective corneal shields; or as ablatable corneal masks useful in laser reprofiling of the cornea. The compositions without the addition of a drug or diagnostic agent are useful as medical devices, for instance, in separating surgically or otherwise injured tissue as a means of preventing adhesions.

Medical uses of in situ formed gels

Balanced pH, thermo-irreversible gels comprising a polyoxyalkylene compound and an ionic polysaccharide are ideal materials for the formation of a protective contact lens over the cornea of the eye of a mammal.

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Dexter, MI, United States of America

Lorraine E Reeve