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.

1 . A medical fluid delivery system, comprising: 
 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, 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 and a proximal end for extending from the proximal port of the delivery catheter.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the distal fixation element allows rotational movement of the delivery catheter with respect to the targeted tissue site.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible hollow needle includes a pre-formed curve in proximity to the tissue-piercing distal tip such that the tip is directed away from the distal fixation element after passing beyond the distal port of the delivery catheter.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible hollow needle is formed of a material comprising a shape memory alloy.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the delivery catheter lumen is formed to include a curve near the distal port such that the distal tip of the flexible hollow needle is directed away from the distal fixation element after passing beyond the distal port of the catheter.  
   
   
       6 . A medical fluid delivery system comprising: 
 means for navigating a guide catheter through vasculature;    means for delivering the medical fluid;    means for fixing the guide catheter at a targeted tissue; and    means for introducing the medical fluid into the targeted tissue.    
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said means for navigation is steerable.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said means for navigation includes structures to navigate through vasculature.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said means for delivering includes a lumen having a proximal and a distal port.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein said means for delivering includes a tissue-piercing distal tip.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said means for fixing includes structures to operate fixation at the targeted tissue and further includes structures to rotatably operate said means for introducing the medical fluid radially about a point of fixation on the targeted tissue.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 10  wherein said tissue-piercing distal tip includes pre-formed shapes to deliver fluid along a delivery path substantially coplanar with the targeted tissue.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein more than one tissue-piercing distal tips are deployed to deliver fluid at various regions of the targeted tissue.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 6  further including means for verifying a position of the guide catheter with respect to the targeted tissue surface.  
   
   
       15 . A method of delivering medical fluid to a tissue, the method comprising: 
 providing a steerable guide catheter;    providing a delivery catheter adapted for deployment at a targeted tissue site;    fixing the delivery catheter adjacent to the targeted tissue site; and    advancing a flexible needle to pierce and deliver the medical fluid into the targeted tissue.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising advancing said flexible needle along pathways that are substantially coplanar with the targeted tissue.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said advancing along pathways that are coplanar includes positioning the delivery catheter fixation perpendicular against the tissue surface and accessing a radial array of delivery sites to deliver the medical fluid.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said at least one flexible needle includes a shape at the distal tip to introduce fluid at the targeted tissue at an angle coplanar with the tissue and divergent from the point of fixation of the guide catheter.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising measuring the impedance of the delivery catheter to determine the angle of contact of the delivery catheter against the targeted tissue.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the at least one flexible needle pierces the targeted tissue at a shallow depth.