| 摘要 |
The present invention provides an drug-delivery tool and method for delivering a selected diagnostic or therapeutic agent to a target site within a selected body tissue, such as the myocardium of the heart. In one embodiment, the drug-delivery tool is configured to be introduced percutaneously for intravascular delivery into temporary cavities formed in the myocardium from the epicardial surface. In another embodiment, the drug-delivery tool is configured for intraoperative use, to be introduced thoracoscopically or through a thoracotomy, to form temporary cavities in the myocardium from the epicardial surface. The drug-delivery tool generally comprises an accessing device having a tissue-penetrating implement in its distal-end region, and means for delivering a selected agent in a cavity formed by the implement. In an exemplary use, wherein a patient's heart is treated with an agent for transferring genetic information to the heart tissue, the distal end of the accessing device is conditioned adjacent a selected region of the heart wall, and the tissue-penetrating implement is advanced to form a temporary channel in the myocardium. The gene-therapy agent is introduced into the cavity by the delivery means and retained therein by means overcoming the intra-myocardial pressures. In one embodiment, the treated tissue is stunned, ischemic or hibernating organ tissue that has at least partially lost its normal capillary ability at natural vasomotion.
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