Patent ID: 6860867
Filing Date: 2005-03-01
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
1. A method of interventional surgery comprising: inserting an actuator within a body of a vascularized organism and stopping the actuator adjacent a target region within a vessel of the vasculature of the body, the actuator including an expandable section incorporating a needle, the actuator being operable between an unactuated condition in which the expandable section is in a furled state and an actuated condition in which the expandable section is in an unfurled state; causing the expandable section to change from the furled state to the unfurled state, to cause the needle to move in a substantially perpendicular direction relative to a wall of the vessel to produce an opening therein; and delivering a therapeutic or diagnostic agent from the needle to the target region via the opening in the wall of the vessel.