Systems and methods for local delivery of an agent
OwnerJohn E. Ahern, James F. Crittendeninventors
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Abstract
A system and method for implanting pellets into myocardial tissue for treatment of coronary artery restenosis, ischemic heart disease, or cardiac conduction of disturbances. The mechanism of delivery can be transcatheter via chambers of the heart, endoscopic pericardial approach via minimally invasive transthoracic access, or intraoperative pericardial approach during open-chest surgery. Noncardiac tissues can also be treated.
Claims31
A method for providing local delivery of a therapeutic agent, comprising the step of implanting said therapeutic agent into a portion of myocardial tissue.
A method for delivering a pellet containing a therapeutic agent, comprising the steps of
- providing a catheter having a distal end adapted for delivering said pellet,
- guiding said catheter through a body lumen and disposing said distal end proximate a tissue wall, and
- delivering said pellet through said distal end with sufficient force to implant said pellet within said tissue wall.
A method for delivering a therapeutic agent to a septal artery, comprising the steps of
- providing a catheter having a distal end adapted for delivering said therapeutic agent,
- guiding said catheter into the interior of a patient's heart, and
- disposing said distal end against a septal wall of the heart for implanting said therapeutic agent into the septal wall.
A method for treating vascular restenosis, comprising the steps of
- identifying a portion of tissue proximate to a site of a patient's vasculature to be treated for restenosis, and
- implanting a therapeutic agent into the portion of tissue.
A pellet, comprising
- a therapeutic agent surrounding a radio-opaque material, whereby delivery of the therapeutic agent is facilitated by viewing the position of the radio-opaque material relative to a position of a targeted site for implanting the pellet.
Apparatus for implanting a therapeutic agent within a tissue wall, comprising
- an elongate flexible body having a proximal end and a distal end,
- a delivery chamber coupled to the distal end of the body and having a space for carrying the therapeutic agent, and a port for releasing the therapeutic agent therefrom, and
- an actuator coupled to the delivery chamber and capable of driving the therapeutic agent through the port, whereby the therapeutic agent is implanted within a tissue wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.