Cardiac drug delivery system and method for use

• US 20030032998A1
• Filed: 10/03/2002
• Published: 02/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BioCardia, Inc
• Original Assignee: BioCardia, Inc
• Inventors: Altman, Peter A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,029,466 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/120
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0089 Single injection needle protruding axially, i.e. along the longitudinal axis of the catheter, from the distal tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/125 Heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0084 being one or more injection needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0563 specially adapted for defibrillation or cardioversion
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0568 with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0587 Epicardial electrode systems; Endocardial electrodes piercing the pericardium
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3621 for treating or preventing abnormally high heart rate

Abstract

Implantable cardiac drug delivery systems. The systems are installed endocardially into a chamber in the heart, and are variously capable of delivering anti-arrhythmia agents into the heart wall, and into the epicardial space outside the heart, and into other chambers in the heart through the septa of the heart.

Claims

1. A method of treating the heart comprising:

providing a catheter adapted for insertion into the endocardial space of the right atrium and subsequent insertion into the atrial wall and penetration of the atrial wall, said catheter comprising;

a catheter tube with a distal section adapted for placement in the pericardial space outside the right atrium;

a proximal section adapted for fluid communication with a fluid reservoir located in a chest of the patient, and an intermediate section extending from the proximal section to the distal section;

a flange disposed on the catheter at the point where the catheter penetrates the atrial wall, said flange capable of being secured to the atrial wall;

providing a fluid reservoir within the chest of the patient;

inserting the distal section through the endocardial space of the right atrium, through the atrial wall so that said distal section is disposed in the epicardial space surrounding the heart;

placing at least a portion of the intermediate section in the endocardial space of the atrium;

securing the flange to the atrial wall; and

connecting the proximal section in fluid communication with the fluid.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

extending the distal section around the heart to form a helical coil surrounding the heart.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of electrodes on the distal section of the catheter.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of drug delivery ports on the distal section of the catheter.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of drug delivery ports on the distal section of the catheter; and

providing a plurality of electrodes on the distal section of the catheter.

6. A method of manufacturing a catheter for use in treating the heart of a patient, said method comprising:

providing a catheter adapted for insertion into the endocardial space of the right atrium and subsequent insertion into the atrial wall and penetration of the atrial wall, said catheter comprising;

a catheter tube with a distal section adapted for placement in the pericardial space outside the right atrium;

a proximal section adapted for fluid communication with a fluid reservoir located in a chest of the patient, and an intermediate section extending from the proximal section to the distal section;

a flange disposed on the catheter at the point where the catheter penetrates the atrial wall, said flange capable of being secured to the atrial wall;

providing a fluid reservoir within the chest of the patient;

inserting the distal section through the endocardial space of the right atrium, through the atrial wall so that said distal section is disposed in the epicardial space surrounding the heart;

placing at least a portion of the intermediate section in the endocardial space of the atrium;

securing the flange to the atrial wall; and

connecting the proximal section in fluid communication with the fluid.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of:

extending the distal section around the heart to form a helical coil surrounding the heart.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of:

forming the distal section into a helical coil around the heart.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of electrodes on the distal section of the catheter.

10. The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of drug delivery ports on the distal section of the catheter.

11. The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of drug delivery ports on the distal section of the catheter; and

providing a plurality of electrodes on the distal section of the catheter.