Medical fluid delivery system

Abstract

A medical fluid delivery system is provided including a steerable, guide catheter, a delivery catheter adapted for deployment at a targeted tissue site using the steerable guide catheter, the delivery catheter including a proximal port, a distal port, and a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ports; a distal fixation element coupled to the delivery catheter so as to position the distal port adjacent the targeted tissue site; and a flexible hollow needle adapted to be advanced through the delivery catheter lumen, the flexible needle including a tissue-piercing distal tip for extending from the distal port of the delivery catheter for advancement into the targeted tissue site and a proximal end for extending from the proximal port of the delivery catheter through which a medical fluid is delivered.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to medical devices for delivering a medical fluid to a targeted tissue site. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Various genetic or cellular modification therapies for treating or repairing diseased or damaged tissue are in development. For example, the delivery of skeletal myoblasts into damaged myocardium may be an effective treatment for repairing myocardial scar tissue following an infarct. Locally effective doses of a pharmacologic, genetic, or biologic agent may be toxic when given systemically. Systemic delivery of cells may be ineffective at the damaged tissue site and may be an inefficient use of specially cultured or harvested cells. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a fluid-delivery device and method for delivering cells or another genetic or biologic agent locally at a targeted tissue site. [0003] Drug-eluting leads are commercially available and used for delivering, for example, an anti-inflammatory agent at...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004] The present invention provides a medical fluid delivery system and method for targeted delivery of cells or a biologic, genetic, or pharmaceutical agent, all of which are generically referred to herein as a “medical fluid”. The delivery system includes a steerable guide catheter having an open lumen for carrying a delivery catheter. The delivery catheter is provided with a fixation member for anchoring the distal end of the de

Problems solved by technology

Locally effective doses of a pharmacologic, genetic, or biologic agent may be toxic when given systemically.

Systemic delivery of cells may be ineffective at the damaged tissue site and may be an inefficient use of specially cultured or harvested cells.

Drug-eluting devices are generally limited to treating only a relatively small volume of tissue at a device-tissue interface.

The pharmacological effect is in part limited by the kinetics of the drug leaving the device.

Biologic and genetic agents may have a limited shelf life, requiring unique storage conditions such as refrigeration, and may not tolerate sterilization procedures.

Therefore, it is not desirable to package a device having drug eluting capabilities with the biologic or genetic agent already incorporated therein.

Images