Devices and methods for interstitial injection of biologic agents into tissue
First Claim
1. A device for injecting medical agents into tissue, the device comprising:
- an elongate shaft having a longitudinal axis, a proximal region and a distal region, a plurality of hollow needles having a sharp distal end, at least one discharge port, a length, and a needle axis along the needle length, the needles operably coupled to the elongate shaft distal region such that the elongate shaft distal region is substantially perpendicular to the needle axes;
means for driving the needles along the needle axes in the direction of the needle sharp distal ends; and
means for discharging a fluid from the needle discharge ports.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for injecting biological agents into tissue. Devices are provided having elongate shafts and distal injection heads for transversely driving needles into tissue and injecting medical agents into the tissue through the needles. A longitudinal force directed along the shaft can be translated to a needle driving force transverse to the shaft. Some devices provide controllably variable needle penetration depth. Devices include mechanical needle drivers utilizing four link pantographs, rack and pinions, and drive yokes for driving a first needle bearing body toward a second tissue contacting body. Other devices include inflatable members for driving and retracting needles. Still other devices include magnets for biasing the needles in extended and/or retracted positions. The invention includes minimally invasive methods for epicardially injecting cardiocyte precursor cells into infarct myocardial tissue.
-
Citations
66 Claims
-
1. A device for injecting medical agents into tissue, the device comprising:
-
an elongate shaft having a longitudinal axis, a proximal region and a distal region, a plurality of hollow needles having a sharp distal end, at least one discharge port, a length, and a needle axis along the needle length, the needles operably coupled to the elongate shaft distal region such that the elongate shaft distal region is substantially perpendicular to the needle axes;
means for driving the needles along the needle axes in the direction of the needle sharp distal ends; and
means for discharging a fluid from the needle discharge ports. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
-
-
20. A device as in claim 20, wherein the first inflatable member is coupled to the first and second bodies and is deflatable, such that withdrawing fluid from the first inflatable member urges the first and second bodies closer together.
-
39. A device for injecting a biological substance into tissue, the device comprising:
-
an elongate shaft including a longitudinal axis, a proximal region, and a distal region;
an injection head coupled to the shaft distal region, the head having a plurality of needles for injecting the substance into the tissue, wherein the needles are oriented substantially perpendicular to the elongate shaft distal region longitudinal axis, the head having a surface for contacting the tissue; and
a needle driver for driving the plurality of needles past the injection head tissue contacting surface and into the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43)
-
-
44. A device for injecting medical substances into tissue, the device comprising:
-
a first body having a plurality of needles fixedly attached thereto;
a second body having the plurality of needles transversely and slidably disposed therethrough, wherein the first body is transversely slidably coupled to the second body, and a drive member inclinably slidably coupled to the first body and slidably coupled to the second body, such that longitudinally translating the drive member transversely moves the first body relative to the second body to move the plurality of needles relative to the second body.
-
-
45. A device for injecting a medical substance into tissue, the device comprising:
-
a first and a second body coupled to each other through a pantograph mechanism on two opposing sides, wherein the pantograph includes a proximal arm pair and a distal arm pair, wherein the arm pairs each include a first member pivotally joined at one end to the first body, a second member pivotally joined at one end to the second body, wherein the first and second members each have second ends pivotally coupled to each other at a central joint, such that moving the proximal and distal arm pair central joints closer together urges the first and second bodies apart and moving proximal and distal arm pair central joints closer together urges the first and second bodies together. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47)
-
-
48. A device for injecting a medical substance into tissue, the device comprising:
-
a first body having a plurality of hollow needles attached thereto and a first plurality of magnets secured thereto;
a second body having the plurality of needles slidably received therethrough;
a third body slidably disposed on the second body and having a second plurality of magnets thereon;
wherein the first and second plurality of magnets are disposed and have polarities oriented such that the slidable third body has a first position in which the first and third body are magnetically attracted to each other and a second position in which the first and third body are magnetically repulsed from each other, such that sliding the third member can act to pull the first body toward the second body and can also act to push the first body away from the second body. - View Dependent Claims (49)
-
-
50. A device for injecting a medical substance into tissue, the device comprising:
-
a first body having a plurality of hollow needles attached thereto;
a second body having the plurality of needles slidably received therethrough, wherein the second body includes a rack fixedly coupled to the second body, the device further comprising a pinion rotatably coupled to the first body and having teeth engaging the rack such that rotating the pinion in a first direction urges the first and second bodies closer together and rotating the pinion in a second direction urges the first and second bodies farther apart. - View Dependent Claims (51)
-
-
52. A device for injecting a medical substance into tissue, the device comprising:
-
a first body having a plurality of hollow needles attached thereto;
a second body having the plurality of needles slidably received therethrough, wherein the first and second bodies have a first expandable member disposed therebetween, such that expanding the first expandable member urges the first and second bodies apart and retracts the needles toward the second body. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56)
-
-
57. A method for epicardially injecting a substance into a heart having an epicardial surface and disposed within a torso, the method comprising:
-
providing a substance-injecting device including a plurality of needles, an elongate shaft having a longitudinal axis, a proximal region, a distal region, and a transverse needle driver coupled to the elongate shaft distal region for driving the needles substantially perpendicular to the elongate shaft distal region longitudinal axis and into the tissue;
making an opening into the torso;
advancing the injecting device through the opening to the heart epicardial surface;
transversely driving the needles through the epicardium; and
injecting the substance from the device into the myocardium. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
-
Specification