Method and apparatus for placing a medical agent into a vessel of the body

Abstract

A method and apparatus for placing a medical agent, such as an embolic coil into a vessel, or aneurysm, by utilizing a stabilizing catheter to retain or support a medical agent deployment device.

1 . (canceled)  
     
     
         2 . A method for placing an embolic coil into an aneurysm comprising the steps of: 
 providing a delivery catheter having a proximal section, a distal section and an intermediate section which is formed from a relatively flexible polymeric material, said intermediate section being normally shaped in a generally bowed configuration and said catheter having a first lumen and a second lumen with a side opening at a location within the intermediate section;    inserting a straightening wire into the second lumen of the catheter to cause said intermediate section of the catheter to become relatively straight;    introducing the delivery catheter into the vessel of a patient to generally align the side opening with the aneurysm;    withdrawing the straightening wire from said second lumen to cause the intermediate section of the delivery catheter to return to the bowed configuration at a location proximal to the aneurysm to thereby cause the side opening to move to a position adjacent to the aneurysm;    introducing an embolic coil hydraulic deployment device into the delivery catheter through the second lumen and through the side opening into the aneurysm; said coil deployment device including an elongated flexible deployment catheter having a lumen extending therethrough and having a distal section being formed of a material having a durometer which exhibits the characteristic that when a fluid pressure is applied to the lumen of the deployment catheter the walls of the distal section of the catheter expand outwardly, an embolic coil being disposed in fluid-tight engagement within the lumen of the distal section of the device, and a source of pressure coupled to the proximal section of the device for applying a fluid pressure to the lumen of the device;    applying a pressure with said source of pressure to the lumen of the deployment device to thereby cause the walls of the distal section of the deployment device to expand and release the embolic coil;    withdrawing the embolic coil deployment device from the delivery catheter;    again inserting the straightening wire into the second lumen of the catheter to cause said intermediate section to become relatively straight; and,    thereafter withdrawing the delivery catheter from the vessel of the patient.    
     
     
         3 - 13 . (canceled)