A high velocity impact device for obtaining multiple,contiguous, myocardial biopsies

A method has been devised which allows multiple contiguous transmural biopsies to be obtained simultaneously from the left ventricular wall of the dog heart. The device is based upon the principle of high velocity impact. Cutting matrices can be constructed to retrieve any number of biopsies of any size over any defined area. Sampling and freezing can be achieved in less than 3 s. Preliminary studies have confirmed the adequacy of freezing (preservation of labile metabolites). Each biopsy sample can be further subfractionated and micoanalytical procedures are described which allow flow and multiple metabolites to be measured in each biopsy. The device may be used to study the metabolic and flow geometry of an area of regional ischemia during evolving myocardial infarction.