Using Mitochondria to Treat Organ Damage After Blood Flow Problems
This patent describes ways to use isolated mitochondria or special mitochondrial agents to treat or prevent damage to organs that happens when blood flow is cut off and then restored, like during a heart attack or surgery.
Original patent title: “Prophylactic and therapeutic use of mitochondria and combined mitochondrial agents”
This patent describes ways to use isolated mitochondria or special mitochondrial agents to treat or prevent damage to organs that happens when blood flow is cut off and then restored, like during a heart attack or surgery. Granted in 2026.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent focuses on compositions and methods for treating or preventing damage caused by ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). The core idea, as described in the abstractabstractA short summary at the front of the patent describing the invention. Not legally binding.Read more →, is to use either isolated mitochondria or specific combined mitochondrial agents. These compositions are designed to be administered to a patient to protect tissues and organs from the harm that occurs when blood flow returns to an area that was previously deprived of oxygen. For example, after a heart attack, when blood flow is restored to the heart, the sudden rush of oxygen can cause further damage; this patent aims to provide a way to mitigate that secondary injury.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover treatments for tissue damage not related to ischemia-reperfusion injury, such as direct trauma or infection.
- Does not cover the use of whole cells containing mitochondria, but specifically focuses on isolated mitochondria or combined mitochondrial agents.
- Does not cover therapies that do not involve mitochondrial components, even if they aim to treat ischemia-reperfusion injury.
- Does not cover the use of mitochondrial agents for enhancing athletic performance or general anti-aging purposes, as the focus is on therapeutic or prophylactic use for IRI.
- Does not cover methods of preventing IRI through surgical techniques or medication that do not involve mitochondrial compositions.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in directly using isolated mitochondria or specific mitochondrial agents to intervene in the complex biological processes of ischemia-reperfusion injury. Instead of targeting symptoms, it aims to bolster the cell's energy powerhouses to better withstand and recover from stress.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Research into mitochondrial transplantation for cardiac repair
Clinical trials exploring mitochondrial therapies for stroke recovery
Development of drugs that enhance mitochondrial function to protect organs during surgery
Studies on using mitochondrial agents to improve outcomes in organ transplantation
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Ischemia-reperfusion injury is a significant problem in many medical conditions, including heart attacks, strokes, organ transplants, and major surgeries. This type of injury can lead to severe organ damage and even death. Developing new ways to prevent or treat IRI could greatly improve patient outcomes and expand the possibilities for complex medical procedures like organ transplantation.
Filed
October 30, 2019
Granted
September 15, 2026
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies are actively researching and developing therapies that target mitochondrial function for various diseases. Companies like Stealth BioTherapeutics and Mitobridge (acquired by Astellas) are examples of entities exploring mitochondrial-targeted drugs. Academic institutions and startups are also heavily involved in the emerging field of mitochondrial transplantation and cell-free mitochondrial therapies.
Market impact
This patent contributes to a growing field focused on mitochondrial medicine, which has the potential to create new therapeutic categories for conditions where current treatments are limited. If successful, such approaches could lead to novel drug candidates and advanced cell-based therapies, potentially reducing the burden of organ damage post-ischemia and improving the success rates of complex medical interventions like organ transplants and cardiac surgeries.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent focuses on compositions and methods for treating or preventing damage caused by ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). The core idea, as described in the abstract, is to use either isolated mitochondria or specific combined mitochondrial agents. These compositions are designed to be administered to a patient to protect tissues and organs from the harm that occurs when blood flow returns to an area that was previously deprived of oxygen. For example, after a heart attack, when blood flow is restored to the heart, the sudden rush of oxygen can cause further damage; this patent aims to provide a way to mitigate that secondary injury.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in directly using isolated mitochondria or specific mitochondrial agents to intervene in the complex biological processes of ischemia-reperfusion injury. Instead of targeting symptoms, it aims to bolster the cell's energy powerhouses to better withstand and recover from stress.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover treatments for tissue damage not related to ischemia-reperfusion injury, such as direct trauma or infection.
- Does not cover the use of whole cells containing mitochondria, but specifically focuses on isolated mitochondria or combined mitochondrial agents.
- Does not cover therapies that do not involve mitochondrial components, even if they aim to treat ischemia-reperfusion injury.
- Does not cover the use of mitochondrial agents for enhancing athletic performance or general anti-aging purposes, as the focus is on therapeutic or prophylactic use for IRI.
- Does not cover methods of preventing IRI through surgical techniques or medication that do not involve mitochondrial compositions.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$36K – $115K
Midpoint $72K · 13.1 yr remaining · industry ×3.0
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
(2026). Using Mitochondria to Treat Organ Damage After Blood Flow Problems (U.S. Patent No. 12,734,194). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12734194/prophylactic-and-therapeutic-use-of-mitochondria-and-combined-mitochondrial
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Using Mitochondria to Treat Organ Damage After Blood Flow Problems cover?
This patent describes ways to use isolated mitochondria or special mitochondrial agents to treat or prevent damage to organs that happens when blood flow is cut off and then restored, like during a heart attack or surgery.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
Ischemia-reperfusion injury is a significant problem in many medical conditions, including heart attacks, strokes, organ transplants, and major surgeries. This type of injury can lead to severe organ damage and even death. Developing new ways to prevent or treat IRI could greatly improve patient outcomes and expand the possibilities for complex medical procedures like organ transplantation.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover treatments for tissue damage not related to ischemia-reperfusion injury, such as direct trauma or infection.
Patent monitoring