Infusion device and method for infusing material into the brain of a patient

Abstract

A fluid infusion device and a method of using the same. The device includes an outer, flexible guide catheter having a distal end for introduction beneath the skull of a patient and a proximal end remaining external of the patient. A flexible infusion fiber is located within the guide catheter and has a distal end extending outwardly from the guide catheter to be located in a target area within the patient's brain. The infusion fiber can be fixed or axially movable within the guide catheter. In the latter embodiment, the proximal end of the infusion fiber extending outwardly from the guide catheter can be manipulated to locate the distal end of the infusion fiber in the target area. An infusion pump is connected to the proximal end of the infusion fiber to infuse a minute quantity of fluid at an extremely low flow rate into the brain of the patient.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED CASES [0001] The present patent application is based upon and therefore claims priority from Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 60 / 629,759, filed Nov. 19, 2004 and entitled “INFUSION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR INFUSING MATERIAL INTO THE BRAIN OF A PATIENT”.BACKGROUND [0002] The present invention relates to infusion devices for introducing fluids into a patient and, more particularly, to an infusion device and method of infusing minute volumes of liquid at extremely low flows into the brain of a patient. [0003] There are certain procedures carried out on a patient where extremely minute, sub-milliliter amounts of fluids or suspensions are directly infused into the brain of the patient and such fluids can include therapeutic drugs or biological material including peptides, proteins, viral vectors, DNA, RNA and other nucleic acids, lipids and liposomes, polymers, dendrimers and the like or combinations thereof. The fluids are infused into a particular target area w...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] Accordingly, the present invention relates to an infusion device that can be utilized effectively and accuratel...

Problems solved by technology

Such catheter has, however, a rather large dead space due to the very dimensions of that catheter.

This large dead space limits reliability and reproducibility of infusions, particularly for small volumes of fluid, due to the large errors and insensible losses inherent in catheters with dead spaces which are significantly greater that the actual volume of fluid to be infused.

In addition, large catheters cause significant damage to the brain in the area of infusion.

This not only can confound therapeutic results, it can also limit the effectiveness and reliability of the infusion.

This creates a dilemma, however.

Although fine catheters are desirable, very fine systems do not usually have the resiliency or strength to withstand long te...

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