Method and apparatus for transport of substances into body tissue

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for delivering a substance to a target tissue are provided which may include any number of features. One feature is storing a substance or drug in a reservoir or reservoirs over an expandable member. The expandable member can be a balloon catheter, for example. The reservoir(s) can be disposed in a Transforming Reservoirs Matrix layer disposed over the expandable member. Another feature is a mechanical activator or a plurality of mechanical activators positioned near the reservoir(s).

1 . A substance delivery apparatus, comprising:
 a catheter shaft;   an expandable member disposed on the catheter shaft;   an expandable shell disposed on the expandable member, the expandable shell comprising a reservoir containing a substance; and   a mechanical activator positioned near the reservoir, the mechanical activator being configured to apply localized mechanical force to the reservoir upon expansion of the expandable member to release the substance from the reservoir.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the expandable member is an expandable balloon. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the expandable member is an expandable cage. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the mechanical activator is disposed on the expandable member. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the mechanical activator is disposed between the expandable member and the expandable shell. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the mechanical activator is disposed within the reservoir. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the expandable shell comprises a plurality of reservoirs each containing a substance, the apparatus further comprising a plurality of mechanical activators configured to apply localized mechanical force to the reservoirs upon expansion of the expandable member to release the substances from the reservoirs. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein a position of each mechanical activator corresponds to a position of each reservoir. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the substance is a drug. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the reservoir is configured to retain the substance when the expandable shell is in a closed configuration and to deliver the substance when the expandable shell is in an expanded configuration. 
     
     
         11 . A substance delivery apparatus, comprising:
 a catheter shaft;   an expandable member disposed on the catheter shaft;   a reservoir disposed over the expandable member, the reservoir containing a substance; and   a mechanical activator positioned near the reservoir, the mechanical activator being configured to apply localized mechanical force to the reservoir upon expansion of the expandable member to release the substance from the reservoir.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the expandable member is an expandable balloon. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the expandable member is an expandable cage. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the mechanical activator is disposed within the reservoir. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the mechanical activator is positioned to correspond to the location of the reservoir. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the substance is a drug. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the substance is a drug, the reservoir being configured to retain the drug when the expandable member is in a closed configuration and to deliver the drug when the expandable member is in an expanded configuration. 
     
     
         18 . A method of treating a target tissue, comprising:
 inserting a drug delivery apparatus containing a drug into a body lumen;   positioning the drug delivery apparatus at the target tissue;   expanding an expandable member of the drug delivery apparatus to apply mechanical force from a mechanical activator to a reservoir; and   delivering the drug from the reservoir to the target tissue.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the expandable member is a balloon. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the expandable member is an expandable cage. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising the step of storing the drug in the reservoir before inserting the drug delivery apparatus into the body lumen. 
     
     
         22 . A method of loading a therapeutic substance into a drug delivery catheter, comprising:
 inflating a balloon to a pressure lower than its nominal pressure, thereby partially expanding a reservoir disposed on the balloon;   loading a drug on the balloon and into the reservoir; and   deflating the balloon to a relaxed configuration.