Patent ID: 8346356

Claim:
A method to prepare an implantable device for gene or protein delivery which includes the delivery of isolated nucleic acid which encodes at least one gene product or binds at least one selected mRNA in a mammal or isolated protein, comprising: introducing to a physiologically compatible polymer matrix the isolated nucleic acid or isolated protein, or combining physiologically compatible monomers suitable to form a polymeric matrix and the isolated nucleic acid or isolated protein, so as to yield a nucleic acid or protein containing matrix, wherein the isolated nucleic acid or protein is selected so as to prevent, inhibit or treat a cardiac condition in a mammal, and wherein the rate of release of the nucleic acid or protein from the nucleic acid or protein containing matrix is capable of being controlled by an electric signal; and electrically wiring the nucleic acid or protein containing matrix to an implantable device having a sensor to sense a physiological signal indicative of a predetermined cardiac condition; an event detector, coupled to the sensor, to detect the predetermined cardiac condition from the physiological signal; an implant telemetry module to receive an external command; and an implant controller including a gene or protein delivery control module configured to produce an electrical signal to control iontophoretic gene or protein delivery in response to the external command.