Iontophoresis, electroporation and combination catheters for local drug delivery to arteries and other body tissues

摘要

Catheter-based devices for enhancing the local delivery of drugs, pharmaceuticals, plasmids, genes, and other agents into the wall tissues of tubular compartments of the living body. One catheter device provides an electrical driving force that can increase the rate of migration of drugs and other therapeutic agents out of a polymer matrix into body tissues and cells using iontophoresis only. Another device uses iontophoresis only, electroporation only, or combined iontophoresis and electroporation. In the latter device, the two procedures may be applied sequentially in any order without removing or repositioning the catheter.