Intra-aortic renal drug delivery catheter

A method for enhancing renal function in a patient, comprising:

• diverting a portion of aortic blood flowing into a location within an abdominal aorta to flow along a diverted flow path substantially only into a plurality of renal arteries via a plurality of respective ostia having unique respective locations along the abdominal aorta wall;
• injecting a volume of fluid agent into the diverted flow path within the abdominal aorta at the location;
• wherein the injected fluid agent is delivered substantially only into the plurality of renal arteries via the diverted flow path into their respective ostia;
• and
• wherein the fluid agent being delivered into the plurality of renal arteries is adapted to enhance renal function.

A system for enhancing renal function in a patient, comprising:

• a delivery catheter with a proximal end portion and a distal end portion with a fluid delivery port;
• a flow diverter located along the distal end portion;
• a source of fluid agent;
• wherein the delivery catheter is adapted to couple to the source of fluid agent;
• wherein the delivery catheter is adapted to position the distal end portion at a location within an abdominal aorta associated with a plurality of renal artery ostia having unique respective positions along the abdominal aorta wall;
• wherein the flow diverter at the location is adapted to divert a portion of aortic blood flow along a diverted flow path substantially only into the plurality of renal arteries via their respective ostia;
• wherein the fluid delivery port is positioned relative to the flow diverter so as to inject a volume of the fluid agent from the source into the diverted flow path;
• and
• wherein the fluid agent is adapted to enhance renal function.