Method of treating the heart

A method of treating the heart by injecting therapeutic agents into a target site within the heart, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a device for treating the heart, said device comprising:
• a drug delivery catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, said drug delivery catheter having a penetrating drug delivery element disposed on the distal end;
• an occluding mechanism disposed about the drug delivery catheter a short distance proximal to the penetrating element, said occluding mechanism adapted to occlude the ostium of the coronary sinus when placed in proximity thereto;
• wherein said short distance is sufficient to place the occluding mechanism in occluding relationship to the ostium of the coronary sinus while placing the penetrating element at a target site within the ostium of the coronary sinus;
• inserting the device for treating the heart into the coronary sinus of the patient until the penetrating element is proximate the target site;
• occluding the ostium of the coronary sinus with the occluding mechanism;
• and
• causing the penetrating element to enter the myocardium at the target site and injecting therapeutic agents into the myocardium from the penetrating element.

A method of treating the heart, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a device for treating the heart, said device comprising:
• a drug delivery catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, said drug delivery catheter having a penetrating drug delivery element disposed on the distal end;
• an occluding mechanism disposed about the drug delivery catheter a short distance proximal to the penetrating element, said occluding mechanism adapted to occlude the ostium of the coronary sinus when placed in proximity thereto;
• wherein said short distance is sufficient to place the occluding mechanism in occluding relationship to the ostium of the coronary sinus while placing the penetrating element at the target site within the ostium of the coronary sinus;
• a guide catheter slidably disposed about the drug delivery catheter, wherein the occluding mechanism is mounted on the guide catheter;
• said guide catheter having a distal end adapted for insertion into the coronary sinus;
• and
• said short distance between the penetrating element and the occluding element being adjustable to permit movement of the penetrating element within the coronary venous system while the occluding mechanism is in proximity to the ostium of the coronary sinus;
• inserting the guide catheter into the coronary sinus of the patient so that the occluding mechanism is disposed to occlude the ostium of the coronary sinus;
• inserting the drug delivery catheter until the penetrating element is proximate the target site;
• occluding the ostium of the coronary sinus with the occluding mechanism;
• and
• causing the penetrating element to enter the myocardium at the target site and injecting therapeutic agents into the myocardium from the penetrating element.

A method for treating the heart of a patent by delivering therapeutic agents to a target site in the myocardium, said method comprising:

• inserting a guide catheter having an occluding means mounted on the distal end of said guide catheter into the coronary sinus through the ostium of the coronary sinus, and causing the occluding means to substantially occlude the ostium of the coronary sinus;
• inserting a drug delivery catheter having a penetrating needle mounted on the distal tip thereof through the guide catheter into the coronary sinus of the patient until the penetrating needle is proximate the target site;
• and
• causing the penetrating needle to enter the myocardium at the target site and injecting therapeutic agents into the myocardium from the penetrating needle.

A method of treating the heart, said method comprising:

• providing a drug delivery system comprising:
• a catheter having a proximal and distal end, said catheter being of sufficient length to be inserted through the venous system of a patient, with the distal end extending into the coronary venous system of a patient;
• a penetrating element at the catheter's distal end, said penetrating element protruding into a coronary vein proximate a target site when the catheter distal end extends into the coronary venous system;
• and
• an occluding mechanism mounted near the distal end of the catheter, a short distance proximal from the penetrating element, said short distance being sufficient to ensure that the occluding mechanism occludes the ostium of the coronary sinus when the penetrating element is proximate the target site;
• inserting the catheter through the venous system and into the coronary venous system with the distal end of the catheter and the penetrating element extending into the coronary vein to the target site;
• expanding the occluding mechanism within the coronary venous system thereby occluding the ostium of the coronary sinus;
• and
• causing a therapeutic agent to be delivered from the penetrating element to the target site.