METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC AGENT DELIVERY

摘要

Method and apparatus for diagnostic and therapeutic agent delivery is provid ed by the present invention. In one embodiment, a method for injecting an agent into the body of a patient is provided. This method includes: covering an injection structure having a piercing tip with a coating that contains a fir st agent; urging the piercing tip of the injection structure into a first targe t located in the body of the patient; and, maintaining the injection structure in the first target location for a predetermined amount of time. In so doing the agent may be conveniently and accurately delivered to the target site. I n another embodiment of the present invention a drug delivery device is provided. This drug delivery device includes a catheter having a proximate e nd and a distal end and an injection structure coupled to the distal end of the catheter. In this embodiment the catheter is covered with a coating that contains an agent. This coating is adapted to release the agent into the bod y of a patient after the coating enters the body of the patient; again to conveniently and accurately deliver the agent to the target site.