Systems and methods for delivering drugs to selected locations within the body

US8540694B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Medtronic Vascular, Inc. · US

Inventors

• J. Christopher Flaherty · Winter Haven, US
• Joshua Makower · Los Altos, US
• Philip C. Evard · Palo Alto, US
• Patrick Macaulay · Windsor, US
• Jason B. Whitt · San Francisco, US
• Robert Colloton · Cupertino, US
• K. Angela Macfarlane · Menlo Park, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 27, 2011
• Grant date: Sep 24, 2013
• Expiry date: Dec 27, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61M2025/1052
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Systems and methods for delivering drugs or other substances to target locations outside of blood vessel lumens or other body lumens. In some embodiments, a catheter having a penetrator is advanced into the body lumen and the penetrator is then advanced from the catheter toward a target location outside of that body lumen. The substance is then delivered through a the penetrator itself or through a delivery catheter that has been advanced through the penetrator to the target location. In other embodiments, the blood vessel or other body lumen is blocked at spaced-apart first and second locations and a quantity of the substance is introduced into the closed-off body lumen between the blocked first and second locations. The substance then diffuses into or through the wall of the vessel or body conduit to reach the target location.