Method and apparatus for inducing the permeation of medication into internal tissue

• US 6,195,583 B1
• Filed: 09/14/1998
• Issued: 02/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Andrew Jonathan Feiring
• Original Assignee: Andrew Jonathan Feiring
• Inventors: Feiring, Andrew Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Mendez, Manuel
• Application Number:
  US09/152,777
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 604/20, 604/21, 604/96, 604/890, 602/115-116, 602/119-120, 602/122, 602/126
• US Class Current: 604/21
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/00 Methods or devices for treatment of the ears or hearing sense implantable prostheses that substitute or replace internal ear parts, e.g. ear-drums, A61F2/18; methods or devices to cause a change in the state of auditory consciousness A61M21/00; electrotherapy applying electrical stimulation of the auditory system, or circuits therefor A61N1/36; radiotherapy using optical stimulation of the auditory system A61N5/06; electro-acoustic hearing aids H04R25/00; Non-electric hearing aids; Methods or devices for enabling ear patients to achieve auditory perception through physiological senses other than hearing sense; Protective devices for the ears, carried on the body or in the hand headwear, e.g. caps or helmets, with means for protecting the ears A42B1/0188, A42B3/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0438 Liquid-filled
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0481 through the cuff wall
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/105 having a balloon suitable for drug delivery, e.g. by using holes for delivery, drug coating or membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0007 having means for enhancing the permeation of substances through the epidermis, e.g. using suction or depression, electric or magnetic fields, sound waves or chemical agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/104 used for angioplasty
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/00 Other apparatus for introducing media into the body for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30; Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin salt baths A61H33/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/306 Arrangements where at least part of the apparatus is introduced into the body

Abstract

A method and apparatus for selectively treating a targeted portion of internal body tissue of a patient by providing an internal electrode at a point adjacent the tissue to be treated and electrodes external to the patient'"'"'s body. Fluid containing ionic molecules is supplied to a location between the internal electrode and the external electrodes and an electric field radiating outwardly from the internal electrode to the external electrodes is created so that said fluid flows outwardly away from said internal electrode into the tissue to be treated.

Claims

1. An apparatus for selectively inducing the permeation of liquid to a targeted portion of a blood vessel in the body of a patient comprising:

an external electrode adapted to be positioned outside of the patient'"'"'s body;

a catheter having an elongated flexible shaft dimensioned for insertion into the human vascular system, the catheter having proximal and distal ends, means extending along the shaft for delivering said liquid from the proximal to the distal region of the catheter and for emitting said liquid from the catheter;

an internal electrode carried by the catheter at the distal end of the catheter;

a conductor extending through the catheter shaft and being electrically connected to the internal electrode, the proximal end of the conductor being connectible to a source of electrical energy; and

means for inducing an electric field between said internal electrode and said external electrode so that fluid emitted from the distal end of the catheter will flow in a direction extending from the internally placed electrode outwardly toward the external electrode.

2. A catheter for selectively inducing the permeation of liquid to a targeted portion of a blood vessel in the body of a patient comprising:

an elongated flexible shaft dimensioned for insertion into the human vascular system, said shaft having proximal and distal ends;

a lumen extending along the shaft for delivering said liquid from the proximal end of the catheter to the distal region of the catheter;

means for emitting the liquid from the catheter;

an internal electrode carried by the catheter at the distal end of the catheter;

a conductor extending through the catheter shaft and being electrically connected to the internal electrode, the proximal end of the conductor being connectible to a source of electrical energy.

3. An apparatus for selectively inducing the permeation of liquid to the heart of a patient comprising:

at least one external electrode adapted to be positioned outside of the patient'"'"'s body;

a catheter having an elongated flexible shaft dimensioned for insertion into the human vascular system, the catheter having proximal and distal ends, a lumen extending along the shaft for delivering said liquid from the proximal to the distal end of the catheter;

a member being in fluid communication with the lumen and having a plurality of pores connected to the distal end of the catheter;

an internal electrode carried by the catheter at the distal end of the catheter; and

a conductor extending through the catheter shaft and being electrically connected to the internal electrode, the proximal end of the conductor being connectible to a source of electrical energy such that an electric field is induced between said external electrode so that fluid emitted from the pores in the member at the distal end of the catheter will flow in a direction extending from the internally placed electrode outwardly toward the external electrode.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the member having a plurality of pores comprises a flexible, inflatable balloon having a plurality of pores formed therethrough to enable the liquid to flow out of the pores.

5. A catheter for selectively inducing the permeation of liquid to the heart of a patient comprising:

an elongated flexible shaft dimensioned for insertion into the human vascular system, said shaft having proximal and distal ends;

a lumen extending along the shaft for delivering said liquid from the proximal end of the catheter to the distal region of the catheter;

a member having a plurality of pores, said pores in fluid communication with the lumen such that the liquid is emitted from the distal end of the catheter;

an internal electrode carried by the catheter at the distal end of the catheter;

a conductor extending through the catheter shaft and being electrically connected to the internal electrode, the proximal end of the conductor being connectible to a source of electrical energy.

6. The catheter as defined in claim 5 wherein the member having a plurality of pores comprises a flexible, inflatable balloon mounted to the distal end of the catheter shaft.