The present invention provides delivery systems for and methods of
delivering conduction protein genetic material to cardiac cells in
localized areas of the heart to improve the conductance therein. More
specifically, there is provided a system and method for delivering
connexin proteins or nucleic acid molecules encoding connexin proteins to
a site in the heart which has been determined by mapping procedures to
have a conduction disturbance. For cases where conduction is impaired,
selected genetic material is delivered to cells around the disturbance
area, in order to enhance overall conductivity patterns; in other cases,
genetic material is selected to slow conduction in affected areas, so as
to prevent, e.g., brady-tachy syndrome.