Apparatus and method for controlled depth of injection into myocardial tissue

摘要

An injector for delivering an injectate into the myocardium of the heart may be implemented as a catheter or a handheld unit. The injector includes a body, a stabilizer secured to a distal end of the body, and a needle that may be controllably advanced from the distal end of the body. The stabilizer stabilizes the distal end of the body relative to the myocardium while the heart beats. An enlarged region disposed along the needle prevents the needle from being advanced into the myocardium beyond a desired penetration depth. To make an injection, the physician brings the distal end of the body in proximity to the myocardium, actuates the stabilizer to stabilize the distal end relative to the myocardium, and advances the needle into the myocardium. Advancement of the needle is impeded by the enlarged region, thereby placing the needle tip at the desired penetration depth for the injection.

主权项

1. An apparatus for administering an injectate into myocardial tissue of a heart of a patient, comprising: a body having a distal portion; a stabilizer disposed at the body distal portion for stabilizing the body distal portion relative to the myocardial tissue; a needle controllably extendable distally from the body distal portion, the needle comprising a needle tip and an enlarged region disposed along the needle a predetermined distance from the needle tip for engaging the myocardial tissue during distal extension to limit penetration of the needle into the myocardial tissue to a predetermined penetration depth, and further comprising an injection port distal of the enlarged region; and a lumen for receiving the injectate, the lumen being in fluid communication with the injection port through the needle for conveying the injectate to the injection port; wherein the stabilizer comprises a helix adapted to be screwed into the myocardial tissue to a fixation depth, the penetration depth of the needle being equal to and independent of the fixation depth of the helix.