Scalable Parallel Gene Therapy Injector Array

• US 20100152662A1
• Filed: 11/17/2009
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Chan, Stephanie, Boyden, Edward S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,708,965 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0693 Brain, cerebrum
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1452 pressurised by means of pistons

Abstract

A scalable parallel injector array has a support structure for holding injector tubes in a spatial pattern in order to enable delivery of fluidic materials simultaneously to a group of specific target areas in the brain or a body part. Each injector is individually connectible at one end to a displacement-controlled pump and is designed at the other end to be inserted into the brain or body part. The injector tubes are connected to the pump by fluid-filled tubing. The spatial pattern is patient- and/or application-customizable, and the length of the injector tubes is customizable in order to more precisely reach individual target areas. A clamping device may be used to attach the injector array to a stereotaxic arm or other support structure. The action of the pump permits controlled simultaneous delivery of the fluidic materials to the target areas.

Claims

1. An injector array, comprising:

a plurality of capillary tubes, each capillary tube being individually connectible at a proximal end to a displacement-controlled pump, each capillary tube being adapted at a distal end for insertion into a brain or body part, each capillary tube being further adapted for delivery of fluidic materials through the distal end to the brain or body part; and

a support structure for holding the plurality of capillary tubes in a spatial pattern that permits delivery of the fluidic materials in parallel to a plurality of specific target areas in the brain or body part.

2. The injector array of claim 1, wherein the capillary tubes are connectible to the displacement-controlled pump by means of tubing.

3. The injector array of claim 1, wherein the spatial pattern is patient-customizable.

4. The injector array of claim 1, wherein the number of capillary tubes is customizable.

5. The injector array of claim 1, wherein the length of each capillary tube is customizable.

6. The injector array of claim 1, wherein the support structure is a custom-milled board through which the capillary tubes pass.

7. An injector array system, comprising:

a displacement-controlled pumping device;

a plurality of tube injectors, each tube injector being individually connected at a proximal end to fluid-filled tubing connected to the displacement-controlled pumping device, each tube injector being adapted at a distal end for insertion into a brain or body part to permit delivery of fluidic materials through the distal end to the brain or body part, each tube injector being controllable by the displacement-controlled pumping device;

an injector array support structure for holding the plurality of tube injectors in parallel in a spatial pattern designed to permit simultaneous delivery of the fluidic materials to specific target areas in the brain or body part; and

a clamping device for attaching the injector array support structure to a stereotaxic arm or other structure.

8. The injector array system of claim 7, the displacement-controlled pumping device further comprising a syringe associated with each connected tube injector, each syringe being connected to the associated tube injector via the tubing.

9. The injector array system of claim 7, wherein the spatial pattern is at least one of patient-customizable or application-customizable.

10. The injector array system of claim 7, wherein the number of tube injectors is customizable.

11. The injector array system of claim 7, wherein the length of each tube injector is customizable.

12. The injector array system of claim 7, wherein the support structure is a custom-milled board through which the tube injectors pass.

13. A system adapted for delivery of fluidic materials to target areas of the brain or body, comprising:

a plurality of injectors, each injector being individually connectible at a proximal end to a displacement-controlled pumping device, each injector being adapted at a distal end for insertion into a brain or body part to permit delivery of fluidic materials through the distal end to the brain or body part, each injector being controllable by the displacement-controlled pumping device;

an injector array support structure for holding the plurality of injectors in parallel in a spatial pattern designed to permit simultaneous delivery of the fluidic materials to specific target areas in the brain or body part; and

a clamping device for attaching the injector array support structure to a stereotaxic arm or other structure.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising fluid-filled tubing connecting each injector to the pumping device.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising the displacement-controlled pumping device, the pumping device further comprising a syringe associated with each connected injector, each syringe being connected to the associated injector via the tubing.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the spatial pattern is at least one of patient-customizable or application-customizable.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the number of injectors is customizable.

18. The injector array system of claim 13, wherein the length of each injector is customizable.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the support structure is a custom-milled board through which the injectors pass.