Particle delivery

• US 8,926,552 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2009
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Walsh, Andrew James Lowenthal
• Primary Examiner(s): Bosworth, Kami A
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAYMAN, IMANI N
• Application Number:
  US12/540,087
• Publication Number:
  US 20110040279A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,973 Days
• Field of Search: 604/506, 604/60, 604/522, 604/57, 604/11, 604/13, 604/15, 424/532
• US Class Current: 604/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3834 Cells able to produce different cell types, e.g. hematopoietic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, marrow stromal cells, embryonic stem cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3856 Intervertebral discs mechanical aspects and structures of intervertebral discs A61F2/442
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/044 Collagen
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/16 Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances A61L31/047 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0069 Devices for implanting pellets, e.g. markers or solid medicaments for introducing of radioactive sources for interstitial radiation therapy, i.e. brachytherapy A61N5/1027
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31 Details

Abstract

A method for delivering particles to a target location of a subject includes slidably disposing a polymeric carrier in a lumen of a catheter. The lumen extends in the catheter from a proximal opening to a delivery region. The method further includes inserting the delivery region of the catheter in the target location of the subject and forcing the particles through the lumen of the catheter to cause the carrier and the particles to exit the delivery region of the catheter. The particles may be cells or drug-loaded microspheres. The carrier can serve to retain the particles in the target location for a period of time. For treatment of vertebral disc degeneration, the particles can be stem cells, the carrier can be formed from collagen, and the target location can be the nucleus pulposus.

Claims

1. A system for delivering particles to a patient;

the system comprising;

an infusion device having a reservoir configured to house the particles;

a delivery element having a proximal end, a distal end, a delivery region between the proximal end and the distal end, and a lumen extending from the proximal end to the delivery region, the delivery element being operably couplable to the infusion device such that particles from the reservoir are deliverable via the delivery region of the delivery element, the delivery element comprises a stop feature between the proximal and distal end to prevent a polymeric carrier from being inserted proximally in the lumen beyond the stop feature;

a polymeric carrier in the form of a compressed sponge slidably disposed in the lumen such that the carrier is spaced apart from the proximal and distal ends of the delivery element, wherein delivery of the particles from the reservoir via the delivery region of the delivery element causes the polymeric carrier to exit to the delivery region of the delivery element;

wherein the particles comprise cells, the cells having a concentration between about 1×

10⁷ cells/mL and about 1×

10⁹ cells/mL.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising the particles.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the particles comprise microspheres.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the particles are in a fluid suspension.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the polymeric carrier is resiliently compressible and is water-swellable.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the polymeric carrier has a water absorption of 100% or more.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the carrier comprises collagen.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the carrier consists essentially of collagen.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the carrier comprises a collagen sponge configured to serve as a scaffold for cell growth, the carrier having a therapeutic agent incorporated therein configured to promote cell growth.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the polymeric carrier in the form of the compressed sponge is rolled and slidably disposed in the lumen.