초록 ▼

The present invention provides a transthoracic drug delivery device that utilizes pressure to determine the precise location of the distal tip of the delivery tube of the device to insure that therapeutic substances are ejected into the myocardium and not dissipated in unintended tissue locations. I

The present invention provides a transthoracic drug delivery device that utilizes pressure to determine the precise location of the distal tip of the delivery tube of the device to insure that therapeutic substances are ejected into the myocardium and not dissipated in unintended tissue locations. In one embodiment the drug delivery device comprises a pressure sensing tube mounted in parallel to a drug delivery tube wherein the tubes are staggered so that the pressure tube extends beyond the delivery tube. When the myocardium is penetrated by the tubes, advancement into the heart and penetration into the left ventricle by the pressures sensing tube results in a pressure increase that indicates to the physician that the drug delivery tube, by its placement relative to the pressure sensing tube is still in the myocardium and, thus, prepared to deliver the drug. In another embodiment, a steerable syringe is provided so that multiple sites in the myocardium can be treated with a therapeutic substance with only one penetration into the heart. Once the delivery tube of the syringe penetrates the left ventricle, its distal tip can be deflected back toward the endocardial surface and the tube withdrawn proximally to cause penetration of the tip into the myocardium. A pressure sensor mounted to the tube indicates, by a measured drop in pressure that the myocardium has been penetrated. The therapeutic substance is ejected into the myocardium and the device is then backed out of the tissue by advancing the syringe in a distal direction. The deflectable tip can be adjusted to a different deflection angle and the delivery tube rotated to make available a circular array of points that may be accessed by the syringe.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of delivering a therapeutic substance to a plurality of sites in the myocardium with a single penetration into the heart comprising: introducing a tube having a deflectable distal portion and distal tip into the left ventricle of the heart; deflecting the distal tip of the tube so th

1. A method of delivering a therapeutic substance to a plurality of sites in the myocardium with a single penetration into the heart comprising: introducing a tube having a deflectable distal portion and distal tip into the left ventricle of the heart; deflecting the distal tip of the tube so that the tip faces the endocardium; moving the tube in a proximal direction so that the distal tip penetrates the endocardium; ejecting a therapeutic substance through the tube into the myocardium; moving the distal tip from the myocardium by advancing the tube distally; adjusting the position of the tip by changing the deflection angle of the tip or by rotating the tube to a new myocardial location; moving the tube in a proximal direction to insert the distal tip into the myocardium at the new location; ejecting a therapeutic substance from the tube into the myocardium. 2. A method of delivering a therapeutic substance to a plurality of locations within a myocardium as defined in claim 1 wherein the tube is equipped with a pressure sensor and the presence of the distal tip within myocardial tissue is determined by the change in pressure between the pressure indicated when the distal tip is in the myocardium versus the pressure indicated when the distal tip was in the ventricle. 3. A method of delivering a therapeutic substance to a plurality of locations within the myocardium as defined in claim 1 wherein the tube further comprises a stiffening element slidable within the tube and prior to introducing the tube, advancing the stiffening element at least through the deflectable distal portion of the tube to provide support while introducing the tube into the heart and then withdrawing the stiffening element proximal to the deflectable distal portion prior to deflecting the distal tip of the tube. 4. A method of delivering a therapeutic substance to a plurality of sites in the myocardium as defined in claim 1 wherein the tube is introduced through the epicardium of the heart to reach the left ventricle.