Percutaneous epicardial injection

• US 20020151868A1
• Filed: 04/12/2001
• Published: 10/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Syde Taheri
• Original Assignee: Syde Taheri
• Inventors: Taheri, Syde
• Granted Patent: US 6,659,950 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/507
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0034 characterized by elements which are assembled, connected or fused, e.g. splittable tubes, outer sheaths creating lumina or separate cores
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0036 with more than four lumina
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/004 characterized by lumina being arranged circumferentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0085 Multiple injection needles protruding axially, i.e. along the longitudinal axis of the catheter, from the distal tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/122 Pericardium
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/125 Heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0084 being one or more injection needles

Abstract

A percutaneous epicardial injection apparatus for myocardial repair and treatment includes a catheter having a tubular wall, an interior portion surrounded by the tubular wall, a base end, a distal end, and a central longitudinal axis extending between the catheter base end and the catheter distal end. The catheter distal end has an end face that is formed at an oblique angle relative to the catheter longitudinal axis and adapted to attach to a patient'"'"'s myocardium using suction. A lumen extends from the catheter base end to the catheter distal end within the catheter interior. The lumen is adapted to slidably support an elongated syringe having a needle tip adapted for movement between a retracted position wherein the needle tip is recessed within the catheter interior to an extended position wherein the needle tip extends from the catheter interior. The injection apparatus may be used to introduce a myocardial repair or treatment material into a dysfunctional area of the myocardium while the catheter distal end is attached thereto by extending the needle tip into the myocardium and injecting the myocardial repair or treatment material into the dysfunctional area.

Claims

1. A percutaneous epicardial injection apparatus for myocardial repair and treatment, comprising:

a catheter having a tubular wall, an interior portion surrounded by said tubular wall, a base end, a distal end and a central longitudinal axis extending between said catheter base end and said catheter distal end;

said catheter distal end being adapted to attach to a myocardium; and

a lumen extending from said catheter base end to said catheter distal end within said catheter interior, said lumen being adapted to slidably support an elongated syringe having a needle tip adapted for movement between a retracted position wherein said needle tip is recessed within said catheter interior to an extended position wherein said needle tip extends from said catheter interior;

whereby said injection apparatus may be used to introduce a myocardial repair or treatment material into a dysfunctional area of said myocardium while said catheter distal end is attached thereto by extending said needle tip into said myocardium and injecting the myocardial repair or treatment material into said dysfunctional area.

2. A percutaneous epicardial injection apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said catheter distal end includes an end face of said tubular wall that is formed at an oblique angle relative to said catheter longitudinal axis.

3. A percutaneous epicardial injection apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said catheter distal end includes suction elements adapted to facilitate attachment of said catheter to said myocardium.

4. A percutaneous epicardial injection apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said suction elements comprise a plurality of openings located in spaced relation around said tubular wall end face.

5. A percutaneous epicardial injection apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said suction elements are respectively connected to vacuum passages extending in said tubular wall from said catheter distal end to said catheter base end.

6. A percutaneous epicardial injection apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said suction elements are connected to a single vacuum passage extending in said catheter interior from said catheter distal end to said catheter base end.

7. A percutaneous epicardial injection apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said suction elements comprise a plurality of openings in a compliant tubular ring member mounted at said catheter distal end.

8. A percutaneous epicardial injection apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said plurality of openings are located in spaced relation around an exposed face of said tubular member and extend generally parallel to said catheter longitudinal axis.

9. A percutaneous epicardial injection apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said tubular member is connected to a vacuum passage in fluid communication with said plurality of openings and extending from said tubular member to said catheter base end.

10. A percutaneous epicardial injection apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further including a lumen extending from said catheter base end to said catheter distal end within said catheter interior, and carrying an optical imaging system.

11. A percutaneous epicardial injection apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further including a lumen extending from said catheter base end to said catheter distal end within said catheter interior, and carrying an ultrasound imaging device.

12. A percutaneous epicardial injection apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further including a cell counter mounted on said tubular wall.

13. A percutaneous epicardial injection apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further including a pair of electrodes mounted at said catheter distal end for myocardial electrical monitoring.

14. A percutaneous epicardial injection apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said catheter interior is hollow and said catheter includes a cover member mounted on said tubular wall at said catheter distal end, said cover member being perforated to receive said lumen.

15. A percutaneous epicardial injection apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said catheter interior is solid filled and perforated to provide or receive said lumen.

16. A method for applying a myocardial repair or treatment material to a myocardium, comprising the steps of:

via percutaneous approach beneath the xiphoid bone of a patient, inserting a small needle into the patient'"'"'s pericardium;

introducing a guide wire and balloon dilator into the patient'"'"'s pericardial sac;

dilating the patient'"'"'s pericardial sac;

following elevation of the patient'"'"'s heart as necessary, selecting a percutaneous epicardial injection apparatus according to claim 1 and preparing it for use;

introducing said catheter using a percutaneous approach and guiding said catheter into said pericardial sac to a selected area of the patient'"'"'s myocardium;

attaching said catheter distal end to said myocardium at said selected area;

extending said needle tip of said syringe into said selected area; and

injecting said repair or treatment material into said myocardium.

17. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein said injection apparatus includes an optical imaging system and said guiding step includes using said optical imaging system to guide said catheter to said selected area.

18. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein said injection apparatus includes an ultrasound imaging device and said guiding step includes using said ultrasound imaging device to guide said catheter to said selected area.

19. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein said injection apparatus includes a pair of electrodes and said method includes using said electrodes to monitor electrical activity of said myocardium.

20. A percutaneous epicardial injection apparatus for myocardial repair and treatment, comprising:

a catheter having a tubular wall, an interior portion surrounded by said tubular wall, a base end, a distal end and a central longitudinal axis extending between said catheter base end and said catheter distal end;

said catheter distal end being adapted to attach to a myocardium and including an end face of said tubular wall that is formed at an oblique angle relative to said catheter longitudinal axis;

said catheter distal end further including suction means for facilitating attachment of said catheter to said myocardium;

a first lumen extending from said catheter base end to said catheter distal end within said catheter interior, said lumen being adapted to slidably support an elongated syringe having a needle tip adapted for movement between a retracted position wherein said needle tip is recessed within said catheter interior to an extended position wherein said needle tip extends from said catheter interior;

a second lumen extending from said catheter base end to said catheter distal end within said catheter interior, and carrying an optical imaging device that includes a light source;

a third lumen extending from said catheter base end to said catheter distal end within said catheter interior, and carrying an ultrasound imaging device;

a cell counter mounted on said tubular wall; and

a pair of electrodes mounted at said catheter distal end for myocardial electrical monitoring;

whereby said injection apparatus may be used to introduce a myocardial repair or treatment material into a dysfunctional area of said myocardium while said distal end is attached thereto by extending said needle tip of said syringe into said myocardium and injecting the myocardial repair or treatment material into said dysfunctional area.