Drug delivery catheters that attach to tissue and methods for their use

Abstract

A system and method for delivering a drug to a target site within a patient's body. The system and method include a steerable guide catheter and a drug delivery catheter. The steerable guide catheter has a first extension tube and a second extension tube that are joined together and form a shoulder. The delivery catheter has a distal docking segment and a proximal docking segment. The guide catheter is inserted into the patient's body, then the delivery catheter is inserted into the guide catheter. The distal docking segment engages the first extension tube, the proximal docking segment engages the second extension tube, and the shoulder limits the distance the delivery catheter can be inserted into the guide catheter. Also, once the delivery catheter is inserted it can be rotated to attach the helical tip to the target site. The guide catheter also includes a steering mechanism as well as a friction mechanism which controls the tension on the steering mechanism. The delivery catheter also includes two luer fittings, each having its own lumen.

1 . A system for delivering a drug to a target site within a patient's body comprising a drug delivery catheter that docks onto a steerable guide catheter, wherein: 
 the steerable guide catheter comprises: 
 a housing having a longitudinal axis, a distal end, a proximal end and a width;  
 a guide tube protruding out of the distal end of the housing along the longitudinal axis of the housing;  
 a hemostatic adapter extending from the proximal end and placed in communication with the guide tube; and  
 a steering knob, located outside the housing, for steering the guide tube; and  
   the delivery catheter comprises: 
 a handle having a longitudinal axis, a distal end, and a proximal end;  
 a dual lumen delivery tube having a first and second lumen, said delivery tube protruding out of the distal end of the handle and aligned substantially along the longitudinal axis of the handle;  
 a first three-way valve attached to the proximal end of the handle and placed in communication with the first lumen of the dual lumen delivery tube; and  
 a second three-way valve attached to the proximal end of the handle and placed in communication with the second lumen of the dual lumen delivery tube;  
   wherein, when the delivery catheter is inserted into the guide catheter, the delivery tube is adapted for insertion within the guide tube through the hemostatic adapter.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the delivery catheter further comprises: 
 a helical fixation element disposed on a distal end of the fluid delivery tube.    
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the delivery catheter further comprises: 
 a thumbscrew disposed within the handle and operably coupled to the delivery tube wherein movement of the thumbscrew rotates the delivery tube.    
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the delivery catheter further comprises: 
 a proximal segment of the fluid delivery tube wound into a helix;    a mandrel rotatably and slidably mounted inside the handle, said mandrel operably coupled to the thumbscrew;    wherein the proximal segment of the delivery tube is disposed about the mandrel; and    wherein movement of the thumbscrew translates the distal end of the delivery tube distally from the distal end of the guide tube.    
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the first three-way adapter is placed in fluid communication with a contrast source; and    the second three-way adapter is placed in fluid communication with a therapeutic agent source.    
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the pullwire is secured to the crank at a point displaced from the longitudinal axis of the housing.  
     
     
         7 . A catheter system comprising: 
 a handle having a main body;    a guide tube extending distally from the handle;    a steering mechanism disposed within the handle for steering a distal segment of the guide tube;    a delivery tube with a helical penetrating element on its distal end, said delivery tube disposed within the guide tube;    a sliding grip mounted on the handle and able to translate relative to the main body along a sliding portion, said sliding grip operably coupled to the delivery tube; and    a thumb screw disposed within the sliding grip and operably coupled to the delivery tube;    wherein translation of the sliding grip causes translation of the delivery tube and rotation of the thumbscrew rotates the delivers tube.    
     
     
         8 . The catheter system of  claim 7  wherein the steering mechanism further comprises: 
 a steering knob disposed within the handle; and    a pullwire operable coupled to the steering knob and the distal segment of the guide tube.    
     
     
         9 . The catheter system of  claim 8  further comprising a boss extending from the steering knob, said boss preventing the pullwire from being pulled to tightly and becoming too loose.  
     
     
         10 . The catheter system of  claim 7  further comprising stops in the main body of the handle, said stops setting the length of travel of the sliding grip.  
     
     
         11 . The catheter system of  claim 7  wherein the delivery tube comprises a dual lumen tube.  
     
     
         12 . The catheter system of  claim 11  wherein the delivery tube is placed in fluid communication with a therapeutic agent source and a contrast agent source.  
     
     
         13 . The catheter system of  claim 7  wherein threading of the thumbscrew and the sliding grip is equal in pitch to the helical penetrating element.  
     
     
         14 . The catheter system of  claim 8  wherein the distal segment of the guide tube is curved into a 180-degree shape when the steering knob is actuated.