Convection-enhanced drug delivery device and method of use

A method for infusing a drug into a target tissue site of a subject, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing an infusion pump assembly, wherein the pump assembly includes a carrier fluid source, wherein the infusion pump assembly is effective to convey a fluid within the pump through a fluid delivery pathway to a target tissue site;
• providing a drug release assembly in communication with the fluid delivery pathway, said release assembly having at least one drug reservoir configured for controlled release of a drug into the fluid delivery pathway;
• and
• enabling a carrier fluid to be delivered under pressure from the infusion pump assembly at a desired flow rate through the fluid delivery pathway to transport drug released by the drug release assembly to the target tissue site.

A method of delivering a drug or bioactive material to target tissue such as tissue of the central nervous system (CNS), such method comprising the steps of

• providing an infusion pump having an output connectable with a delivery line implantable at a target tissue site;
• and
• providing a controlled release drug device attachable in communication with the delivery line, such that the controlled release drug device is effective to release drug into carrier fluid pumped by the infusion pump;
• thereby delivering the carrier fluid to the target tissue site with said drug, the pump being controllable to maintain an elevated delivery pressure such that the drug achieves a convectively enhanced profile in tissue at the target tissue site.