Patent ID: 8562586

Claim:
A preformed epicardial patch for delivery of a positive inotropic agent to the heart of a patient, comprising: a backing layer which is substantially impermeable to the positive inotropic agent; and a drug release layer attached to the backing layer and comprising the positive inotropic agent and a polymeric membrane material, which, upon placement of the epicardial patch onto a portion of the epicardial surface of the heart, the polymeric membrane material comprising a diffusion-controlling material configured to provide controlled release of the positive inotropic agent to the epicardium to a region of the myocardium and in an amount effective to increase contractility by providing a myocardial concentration of the positive inotropic agent in the range of 10 ng/ml to 100 ng/ml while maintaining plasma concentrations of the inotropic agent below 5 ng/ml, wherein at least one of the backing layer or the drug release layer comprises a tissue coupling portion for affixing the epicardial patch to an area of the epicardial surface, and wherein the epicardial patch is dimensioned and compliant to avoid impeding myocardial functionality when affixed to the area of the epicardial surface, the epicardial patch having a surface area of at least 12 cm 2 .