Minimally invasive gene therapy delivery and method

A method of delivering sequential injections of a therapeutic substance to an area of bodily tissue within the body of a patient, said method comprising:

• providing an elongate tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end, said tubular body having a needle disposed at said distal end;
• inserting the distal end of said tubular body into the patient's body;
• positioning said distal end and said needle proximate to the bodily tissue to be treated;
• penetrating said bodily tissue with said needle;
• injecting said therapeutic substance;
• marking said tissue using a marking device to provide a discernible indication of the location of the injection;
• viewing the discernible indication;
• and
• repositioning said distal end proximate to the bodily tissue in a location different from the first injection site for making a subsequent injection.

A method of delivering a therapeutic substance to the heart tissue of a patient, said method comprising:

• at least partially collapsing one of the patient's lungs;
• inserting a delivery device into the patient's thoracic cavity through an opening in the patient's chest wall, said delivery device having a needle for injecting the therapeutic substance into the heart tissue;
• and
• delivering the therapeutic substance to the patient's heart by passing the needle through the patient's pericardium and into the heart tissue.

A method of delivering sequential injections of a therapeutic substance to an area of bodily tissue within the body of a patient, said method comprising:

• at least partially collapsing the patient's lung;
• providing an elongate tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end, said tubular body having a needle disposed at said distal end;
• inserting the distal end of said tubular body into the patient's body after at least partially collapsing the patient's lung;
• positioning said distal end and said needle proximate to the bodily tissue to be treated;
• penetrating said bodily tissue with said needle;
• injecting said therapeutic substance;
• marking said tissue to provide a discernible indication of the location of the injection;
• viewing the discernible indication;
• and
• repositioning said distal end proximate to the bodily tissue in a location different from the first injection site for making a subsequent injection.

A method of delivering sequential injections of a therapeutic substance to an area of bodily tissue within the body of a patient, said method comprising:

• providing an elongate tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end, said tubular body having a needle disposed at said distal end;
• inserting the distal end of said tubular body into the patient's body;
• positioning said distal end and said needle proximate to the bodily tissue to be treated;
• penetrating said bodily tissue with said needle;
• injecting said therapeutic substance;
• marking said tissue with a radiographic contrasting agent to provide a discernible indication of the location of the injection;
• viewing the discernible indication radiographically;
• and
• repositioning said distal end proximate to the bodily tissue in a location different from the first injection site for making a subsequent injection.

A method of delivering sequential injections of a therapeutic substance to an area of bodily tissue within the body of a patient, said method comprising:

• providing an elongate tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end, said tubular body having a needle disposed at said distal end;
• inserting the distal end of said tubular body into the patient's body;
• positioning said distal end and said needle proximate to the bodily tissue to be treated;
• penetrating said bodily tissue with said needle;
• injecting said therapeutic substance;
• marking said tissue with an ultrasonically dense marker to provide a discernible indication of the location of the injection;
• viewing the discernible indication ultrasonically;
• and
• repositioning said distal end proximate to the bodily tissue in a location different from the first injection site for making a subsequent injection.

A method of delivering sequential injections of a therapeutic substance to an area of bodily tissue within the body of a patient, said method comprising:

• providing an elongate tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end, said tubular body having a needle disposed at said distal end;
• inserting the distal end of said tubular body into the patient's body;
• positioning said distal end and said needle proximate to the bodily tissue to be treated;
• penetrating said bodily tissue with said needle;
• injecting said therapeutic substance;
• marking said tissue by injecting an agent, dye or other viewably dense substance with the therapeutic substance to provide a discernible indication of the location of the injection using a marking device;
• viewing the discernible indication;
• and
• repositioning said distal end proximate to the bodily tissue in a location different from the first injection site for making a subsequent injection.