Patent ID: 6224566
Filing Date: 2001-05-01
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A device suitable for administering a predetermined amount of a therapeutic agent into a mammalian heart myocardium comprising:a catheter defining a fluid flow channel and having a distal end;a hollow open ended puncturing tip in the form of a hollow needle at the distal end of the catheter and defining at least one fluid channel exiting the tip;an optical fiber within the catheter and having a distal end extending into the fluid channel of the tip, the optical fiber together with the catheter defining a confined flow passageway in communication with the fluid channel in the puncturing tip, such that a therapeutic agent introduced via the confined flow passageway exists through the fluid channel of the tip, andwherein the needle contains protrusions within the bore of the needle which run substantially parallel with the length of the needle, or spirally along the length of the needle, and define channels which maintain fluid communication through the length of the needle when an optical fiber is fixed within the bore of the needle.