Systems and Methods for Delivering Drugs to Selected Locations Within the Body

摘要

A transvascular system (10) for delivering a drug to a tissue region from a blood vessel, such as a coronary vein, includes a catheter (12) having a distal portion (26) with puncturing (14), orientation (16), drug delivery (62), and imaging elements (18). The puncturing element (14) is deployable for penetrating the vessel wall to access the tissue region. The orientation element (16), e.g. a “cage” including a plurality of struts (38) (40) and/or a radiopaque marker, has a predetermined relationship with the puncturing element (14), the imaging element (18) detecting the location of the orientation element (16) with respect to the tissue region to orient the puncturing element. The catheter (12) is percutaneously introducing into the vessel, the puncturing element (14) is oriented towards the tissue region, the puncturing element (14) is deployed to access the tissue region, and the drug is delivered to the tissue region. An ablation device (230) may also be deployed to create a cavity or fluid reservoir in the tissue region for receiving the drug therein, or an indwelling catheter (214) may be advanced into and left in the tissue region.

主权项

1. A multiple needle catheter device useable for delivering a therapeutic substance to locations within a body of a human subject, the device comprising:
an elongate flexible catheter body; a plurality of needles, each needle having at least one lumen in fluid communication with at least one outflow opening, wherein the needles are alternately moveable between (a) retracted positions wherein the needles are within the catheter body, and (b) advanced positions wherein the needles extend out of and laterally away from the catheter body; and a needle stopping apparatus configured to selectively control advancement of the needles.