Retrograde delivery of pharmacologic and diagnostic agents via venous circulation
First Claim
1. A method for the retrograde venous delivery of fluid containing pharmacologic or diagnostic agents to a microcirculatory system in a desired location within a patient'"'"'s body comprising:
- a. inserting a catheter having an inflatable balloon at the distal end thereof into the patient'"'"'s venous system and advancing the catheter to a position within a vein which drains the microcirculatory system;
b. inflating the balloon at the distal end of the catheter to thereby block the interior of the vein and prevent fluid from flowing through the vein in the same direction as normal blood flow;
c. directing the fluid containing pharmacologic or diagnostic agents through the catheter and the vein and into the microcirculatory system in a retrograde direction which is opposite to the normal blood flow therethrough;
d. maintaining the fluid containing pharmacologic or diagnostic agents in the microcirculatory system for a period of time of at least two seconds and at sufficient pressure to facilitate the delivery of the fluid in an unsynchronized manner to the desired location and the desired performance of the pharmacologic or diagnostic agents contained therein; and
e. deflating the balloon at the distal end of the catheter to allow fluid to drain from the microcirculatory system through the vein in the direction of normal blood flow therein.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention is directed to specific methods and a system for the retrograde delivery of fluids containing a pharmacologic or diagnostic agent (via a catheter inserted into a patient'"'"'s regional venous system) supplied into the microcirculatory system of the same region to which the arterial blood in flow is blocked or otherwise restricted. A catheter having an inflatable balloon on the distal end thereof is passed through the patient'"'"'s venous system (e.g., for myocardial retroinfusion, and so that fluid containing pharmacologic (thrombolytic drugs or antiarrhythmic agents) or diagnostic agents is directed therethrough in a direction opposite to the normal blood flow and into the microcirculatory system of the jeopardized tissue. The fluid is held in the microcirculation for a period and at a pressure which facilitates its absorption or other function such as clot dissolution, pharmacologic action, or diagnostic contrast assessment with minimally invasive imaging methods. The balloon is then deflated after a particular treatment period, or else retroinfusion is reduced or terminated whenever the fluid pressure in the regional vein exceeds a predetermined maximal pressure which could lead to tissue damage. For coronary venous retroinfusion, the catheter tip balloon when inflated has preferably a broad base and tapers in the distal direction to the apex thereof.
291 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method for the retrograde venous delivery of fluid containing pharmacologic or diagnostic agents to a microcirculatory system in a desired location within a patient'"'"'s body comprising:
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a. inserting a catheter having an inflatable balloon at the distal end thereof into the patient'"'"'s venous system and advancing the catheter to a position within a vein which drains the microcirculatory system; b. inflating the balloon at the distal end of the catheter to thereby block the interior of the vein and prevent fluid from flowing through the vein in the same direction as normal blood flow; c. directing the fluid containing pharmacologic or diagnostic agents through the catheter and the vein and into the microcirculatory system in a retrograde direction which is opposite to the normal blood flow therethrough; d. maintaining the fluid containing pharmacologic or diagnostic agents in the microcirculatory system for a period of time of at least two seconds and at sufficient pressure to facilitate the delivery of the fluid in an unsynchronized manner to the desired location and the desired performance of the pharmacologic or diagnostic agents contained therein; and e. deflating the balloon at the distal end of the catheter to allow fluid to drain from the microcirculatory system through the vein in the direction of normal blood flow therein. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification