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 steerable guide catheter comprising:
 a guide catheter having a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis; 
 a housing engaging the proximal end of the guide catheter; 
 a hemostatic adapter extending from the housing in communication with the proximal end of the guide catheter; and 
 steering means for steering the guide catheter, the steering means providing rotation and deflection of the guide catheter, the deflection of the distal end greater than ninety degrees from the longitudinal axis; and 
   a drug delivery catheter operable to dock on the guide catheter through the hemostatic adapter, the delivery catheter comprising:
 a handle having a longitudinal axis, a distal end, and a proximal end; 
 a single lumen delivery catheter protruding out of the distal end of the handle and aligned substantially along the longitudinal axis of the handle and extensible beyond the distal end of the guide catheter; 
 a helical drug delivery needle operably connected to the distal end of the delivery catheter; and 
 means for repeatably and simultaneously rotating and advancing the drug delivery catheter within the guide catheter relative to the guide catheter. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 means for managing fluids to be passed through the drug delivery catheter, the fluid management means operably and rigidly secured to the drug delivery catheter to rotate and advance with the drug delivery catheter.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the drug delivery catheter further comprises:
 a single lumen delivery catheter protruding out of the distal end of the handle and aligned substantially along the longitudinal axis of the handle and extensible up to six centimeters beyond the distal end of the guide catheter.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the drug delivery catheter further comprises:
 a dual lumen delivery catheter having a first and second lumen, said delivery catheter protruding out of the distal end of the handle and aligned substantially along the longitudinal axis of the handle and extensible up to six centimeters beyond the distal end of the guide tube.